Two of the most popular questions, at least for pilots and other students of aviation history, are: What are the top 10 planes of all time, and which one’s the greatest of them all?
Seems impossible, but we think we did it. Here’s how.
We started with a group of really great airplanes, which automatically turned into cross section of airplane types.
Then we narrowed things down even more by asking if there was a top dog among them. Usually, surprisingly, there was. That one made the list.
We think you’ll agree with at least two-thirds of our picks.
After our Top 10 Planes Of All Time, we present 25 others that a lot of you will argue belong on the main list. In many cases, you’d have a strong argument. Enjoy!
Mooney M20
What is there to the Mooney single-engine, four-seaters that set them apart from, say, the iconic Beech Bonanza or the Cessna 210 Centurion? Two words: economy and speed. Al Mooney’s compact cruiser gets the most out of its available power; the company has long been in the business of cutting drag to up the plane’s speed, the ultimate expression of which is the high-flying Acclaim, which tops 230 knots. Earlier models are perhaps the ultimate expression of Mooney’s vision, as they were able to barely eke out the magic 1-mph-per-horsepower goal.
Photo courtesy of Flickr User Rob Hodgkins
