Hush-Kit Top Ten: The ten best-looking biplanes

January 18, 2013

 

The age of the biplane was short, less than thirty years. A blink in history. But, the biplane has seared itself onto the collective imagination.

Few good ideas disappear forever in aviation, and it is possible that the biplane will return, this time reborn as a wing for supersonic airliners. Qiqi Wang, an assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT  has been studying the work of 1950s German aerodynamicist Adolf Busemann. Busemann proposed using a delta biplane to cancel out supersonic shockwaves, so the aircraft did not produce a sonic boom. Wang believes that with today’s technology this idea can be made to work. So, our children may fly to New York on biplane Concordes. In the meantime, let’s look at some fruity biplanes!

10. Bucker Bu 131 ( more on German aeroplanes here )

9. Beech Staggerwing

8. Mitsubishi F1M ( more on Japanese aircraft here )

7. Hawker Nimrod

6. Albatros DVa

5. Fiat Cr.32 ( more on Italian aircraft here and here )

4.  Avia B.534

3. Curtiss R3C-4

2. de Havilland Dragon Rapide ( more on this aircraft here )

 

1. Gloster IV ( more on this aircraft here )

If you enjoyed this, have a look at the top ten British, French, Swedish, Australian,  Soviet and German aeroplanes. Wanting Something a little more exotic? Try the top ten fictional aircraft.

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Written by Hush Kit Posted in Aviation, Hush-Kit Top Ten