Friends don’t let friends fly in Russian airliners.
The smoothest flight I ever remember taking was on an AA Airbus A300 in the Carribean, back in the 1990’s. It flew like a dream.
Favorite airplane:
1973 Version
My All time favourite is the Fairchild Hiller FH-227.
I maintain a website dedicated to it… fh227.rwy34.com
I also like the Beech 99, Metroliner, 727-100, BAC One Eleven, Shorts 330, Cessna 402, DC9 series 10 and 50… The L1011 is a fave of mine to…Of course the Fokker and Fairchild F27s are awesome too…
Sometimes a poor rep because of bad mechanical, pilot errors. Look at the newer well maintained generation, like tthe 204 and 96, no fatal crashes.
Historically, the primary cause of aircraft losses in RU airliners has been due to their almost complete lack of maintenance. The old soviet era adage explaining how their economic system worked given the fact that their money was worthless, “We pretend to work and they pretend to pay us”, is telling for the fact that the system continues under the new regime.
The oligarchy presently running RU is little concerned with feeding and caring for their golden geese, they are far more concerned with socking away as much money as possible and escaping their nation before they draw the ire of Putin and wind up in prison for some imagined slight.
Until you’ve attempted to travel within the former USSR, you cannot conceive of how narrow the divide is between them and third-world nations. Especially if you drive on what they consider “improved” roads.
I stand by my original comment.
I love the Dash-8-Q-400 Amazing aircraft!!!
Yes, probably one of my favorite turboprop aircraft.
Not disagreeing with you friend, just saying that if these aircraft were maintained at the same standards the West is accustomed to, it would be a thrill to fly in them. Indeed most Russian aviation in like looking through a time machine.
I agree - Look at some of the recent Russian aviation accidents- UT lost an ATR (icing was initially considered), the YAK-42 that went down killing the lokomotiv hockey team took off heavy and in the incorrect configuration, the TU-134 that fell short on final, the aeroflot 737-5 that had enormous crew error (wasn’t the pilot drunk as well?)
If the Russian aviation gets their **** together, (A challenge nobody here will disagree to being difficult) it would be great. But im not going to hold my breath. Like I said friend - a highly unlikely wishlist
Very sad, but very true.
Regards.
I feel as I grow older (I’m 36), the variety of aircraft I see is diminishing. Or at least the new ones just aren’t as beautiful as they once were.
Back in the 80’s, I went yearly from SAN to MKG via ORD. Most times, we flew in an Air Wisconsin De Havilland Dash 7, hence my username. I’m kind of sad those don’t exist in america anymore. I loved it as a kid. Antiquated now, but most of the fun aircraft are.
http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=5052308030226713&id=47112f2750f7e237f2b234639de14882
Last Monday, on the Weather Channel, I watched Ice Pilots NWT, which I had seen on YouTube. It has come to America. I rather like the show, and LOVE seeing the DC-6 flying. There’s something rugged about it, and that’s not a word I usually bestow on an airplane. It’s just very industrial-looking, and has a great engine sound.
As for modern airplanes, I still love the 747, but also am increasingly aware that it will be phased out somewhat soon (Y3?). I also find the Dash 8 Q-400 very sleek. In fact, Alaska is unveiling an SDSU theme logo for a Q400 down at SAN on Thursday at 10 or 10:30. I’m planning on going.
Private planes never excited me much as a kid, but I’m getting somewhat more interested. There’s a new (?) class of plane called a VLJ, or very light jet. Some of them are really sleek looking. I like the Eclipse 500, though I think that company went under.
It was really hard to vote today because I had to choose between a P-51 and F-4U. I’m hard pressed to find any reason why one should beat the other, so I picked the P-51. After all was said and done…
I am a fan of the MD-80 series.It was the first airplane I worked on when I got hired as a Mech. 
Hej, cool thread, my fav. the VC 10 and its USSR counterpart the IL 62, this one used to land in Luxembourg on its way to Havanna.
for the smaller ones the BAC 1-11, nice little plane.
I love the PC-12 awesome plane!
Definitely any version of the 737. Most especially the -700; I’ve been on so many Southwest -700s. Great Plane!
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50 
Love this aircraft!!!
Always liked the B727-200. A trio of JT8’s at full song is music to my ears! 
Noisy, but effective.
My favourite aircraft of all time has to be the Concorde. Never that popular in America due to their failure to make their own SST which is the only reason I can think of for it not being mentioned on this thread more often.
Has any aircraft looked better than that.
DC-8 in KLM colors.
(a) Any 747
(b) Anything going west across the Atlantic or east across the Pacific: I’m coming home!
2 Likes