FAVORITE AIRCRAFT - The Top Picks by Ten Legendary Pilots Throughout Aviation History!

[maxsmodels]

Mike, you look every bit the dashing sailplane pilot in that ending image. For me it is the F-106 but of the planes I have flown it is the T-34 Mentor. Perfect control harmony, good power, slick looking and a military cockpit. You can even fly it with the canopy open. That is followed closely by the 235 Piper Pawnee that I flew when I towed gliders. Both planes did the same thing...they made me smile....even laugh when I flew them.

[danielhreno]

Some surprises, for sure.
But who could argue with any of these guys?

[michaelmeister]

Great video! Mike, Scott Crossfield was the first pilot to fly faster than Mach 2 on Nov 20, 1953 in the Douglas D-558-II. The US Air Force started a series of tests with the X-1A, which the test pilot of the series, Chuck Yeager, named "Operation NACA Weep". These culminated on 12 December 1953, when Yeager achieved an altitude of 74, 700 feet (22, 800 m) and a new airspeed record of Mach 2.44.

I would also nominate Cmdr. Eric “Winkle” Brown RN as the greatest test pilot of all time with 487 different types of aircraft flown! His favorite jet was the F-86 and favorite prop was the DeHavilland DH-103 Hornet.

[ejharrop]

Wonderful video and full of fascinating memories and information. You are so fortunate to have meet so many amazing individuals and got to hear from them first hand their stories. Oh for having an iphone back then, priceless. Thank you and take care.

[reltney]

Mike, Awesome…. Very well done.

I have flown roughly 270 different planes up to this point in my life as a pilot. My three favorite planes I piloted…. Easy, Transport category ..747! What a simple plane. Fast, Iconic and just super easy to fly! Fighter…….F-16A-ADF. Why? It was the most nimble 16! Just point the nose. Props, My 1966 Twin Comanche. Why, it’s just perfect! Handles better than most twins and affordable and fast. I choose the twin Comanche (Twinkie) over non revenue travel with my airline for vacation.

You have the greatest aviation channel ! Thanks!

[jetsons]

What a great bunch of pilots. So much history between them all, thanks to them. Mike, a big "thank you" for you for keeping so much aviation history alive for future generations.

[martinpennock]

A wonderful and informative presentation as always Mr Machat! Some surprises to say the least. What an honor it must have been to work with and meet General Yeager and John Glenn! Two of my childhood heroes! Never been in a sail plane, but I would almost give a limb to be able to ride in one wit you at the stick! Anyway, as always God bless you and yours and thanks again for everything you do! Take care always Sir!

[joeschenk]

Great one....interesting to know what these great guys considered their favorite. Well worth the WAIT !

[rayprater]

Thank you for this video I really enjoyed this one

[Duececoupe]

Awesome video as always!

I just picked up a book about and as told by Joe Foss, 1st edition from '43....

Will be feeling the wings of history when it arrives....😎

[GustavoMonasterio]

One more amazing video Mike! Very interesting to know the favorite aircraft of these aviation icons! Greetings from Brazil! 🇧🇷

[JMdfcv]

UPT back in 1988, my class had an academic instructor that began every class with “a reading from the book of Chuck” (YEAGER, an autobiography, still have my copy from 1985). Good times! I enjoyed flying all the aircraft I was assigned. Although, my 1.2 hours in the front cockpit of a family model TPS F-16 ranks up there (payback sortie for all of the QF-4E Phantom sorties I instructed/flew with the TPS students). An hour of self-study in their CFT, 15 minutes reviewing CAPS with my TPS IP and we were off into the wild blue over EDW (after the crew chief walked me thru engine start & flight control checks). Easy to fly, turn & burn, stalls & falls, landings…every pilot needs an F-16 in their hangar. My favorite would be the T-38A/AT-38B Talon.

[garyyoung]

Well Mike, not much of a u-tube subscriber, but this video put me on your list. My first one. Our discussions over the PW J75 and the century series has convinced me to watch other videos of yours. All of them well done, and not just by an "armchair expert" I have pleasantly discovered. Nice job, you are the real deal. I was president of an EAA chapter in Ohio for years and was blessed with meeting many of the top pilots of the airshow circuits during that time. At one such airshow co- sponsored by our club and M.A.P.S (AKR/CANTON) John Glenn was one of our guests. Being aware of his F-8 record, it was the start of a long conversation (at least 30 min! in a busy airshow)...he was SO not bored talking flying, and PWA with me, even after all that time. I finally felt I was hogging his time.... but flying w/John Glenn in person! I'm still smile as I remember this....A favorite memory of mine too. Dale Snodgrass was the F-14 demo pilot for years and we talked flying PW TF30's vs the GE 404s (?) In the D. He had a GE stick in AB during a show at CLE and had to shut it down and make a single engine landing in front of 250k people. Just another day for those guys. My favorite was the "six" also (as a kid.) They were based at Westover and intercepted Soviet Bears flying down the coast. Sometime sonic booming my house (about 20 miles away) during times of tried realations. CT. has lots of defence contracters all pretty close together. We felt the stress of the cold war and didn't mind the jets streaking over in the wee hours...It was a BIG powerfull, fast airplane and very manuverable with the range to out last the Phantoms it practiced with. My heart now favors the F-15. STILL a lovely, powerfull, sexy looking machine after all this time. As a pilot, my favorite was flying a friends SF-260. Yank and bank, twist and mini fighter. Anyway, keep up the good work. Really enjoyed this one Mike.

[glennweaver]

A most enjoyable presentation of the favorite flying machines of these ten superb aviators. And, your own favorites. Incredible photos too. Outstanding work as always Mike.

[bosoerjadi]

It is on my bucket list to someday fly along in a (replica of a) WW1 era biplane.

[stevecausey]

That was so much fun!
Lots of things I didn't know before.
And, Colonel Broughton is a hero of mine...it was great to see him mentioned.

[dougsguitarlounge]

Great video! Many surprises in the list of favorites, I love the comments on the F-16 . It's a nice little jet! That's awesome! 👍 😆

[patcash]

I think that Neil Armstrong's favourite was the F8 Bearcat. Thanks for all your vids.

[wkelly]

Always great, but especially enjoy presentations that highlight the history of noteworthy personalities. Thanks!

[RyeOnHam]

The L-13 was the first aircraft I got to 'fly'. It was on my 18th birthday and my parents footed the bill for a flight. The pilot let me take control. I'd had enough time in the simulators that I generally knew what I was doing, but pretty excited to be finally doing it. That 'seat-of-the-pants' feel is amazing.