History's Greatest Aircraft? Says Who?

One of the questions we are often asked, and sometimes asked in a raised, angry voice, is ‘Who says that's one of History's Greatest Aircraft?’

Well as the guardians of the title, History's Greatest Aircraft, HGA as we call it internally, I have to offer three answers:

1. We do lol

2. You do

3. Everyone does

All the classic phrases apply - “One mans meat”, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, “It takes all sorts”

Here’s a secret. Possibly a badly kept secret. Often when we write up or plan filming of an aircraft for HGA, we do it with our tongues firmly in our cheeks. We’re trying to get a reaction. One of our Producers, Ellie H is the Queen of HGA Facebook, she pours through books and films for hours on end looking for the strangest of aircraft, but especially those that are unique and interesting.

Not everyone will think each model if History's Greatest - but SOMEONE will. 

No one in their right mind would ever think that the Percival Mew Gull was History's Greatest Aircraft, not even the rather feisty Edgar Percival who designed it… (or did he? But thats another story). 

However in 1939, when Alex Henshaw flew the Racer from Essex to Cape Town in 40 hours, completing the whole 12,754-mile round trip in 4 days, 10 hours and 16 minutes, breaking the record for each leg and setting a solo record for the round trip which still stands… it was. For one brief shining moment the Mew Gull was HGA.

Likewise The Goodyear Inflatoplane, an inflatable experimental aircraft made by the Goodyear Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, well known for the Goodyear blimp. Although it seemed an improbable project, the finished aircraft proved to be capable of meeting its design objectives, although orders were never forthcoming from the military. A total of 12 prototypes were built between 1956 and 1959, and testing continued until 1972, when the project was finally cancelled. (Wikipedia). 

If you were the designer, or the nylon cord expert recruited from the tyre division to figure out how to keep the wings rigid, or the guy from McCullough engines (yes the lawnmower people, but they did make aero engines) that powered some versions… don't tell me that as you saw the rubber plane powered by the chainsaw engine soar into the air, you didn't think it was HGA.

As for the real, actual plane thats HGA? Well thats easy. Boeing 737. Or P51D. Or B52. Or Bleriot IX, possibly Piaggio P180 Avanti II. Maybe the F15…