Picture of the day

[Dark Alley Dan]

When not afflicted with tumours, the Lysander could be quite pretty:

 

[HuskyDude]

No it's not!!! It's ugly!

Most of Westland Aircraft were ugly...well maybe not the Wyvern or the Welkin.

Even the helicopters look like insects...

 

[Grizzly Adams]

No it's not!!! LOL

It's ugly!

Amazing what you can do with Photoshop.

Grizz

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Ah, you cynical old farts.

Sure, not as pretty as a Supermarine...

...or DeHavilland product, but really, what is?

At least it isn't some monstrosity from Blackburn, Builders of the World's Homliest Aircraft (with the possible exception of interwar French bombers):

The creatively named Blackburn Blackburn:

The Blackburn B.88 (only one made, thank God):

The portly and uncharming Blackburn Beverly:

I think by comparison the Lysander is a veritable lithe soaring gull, a supermodel of the air compared to the ghastly contraptions with which Blackburn assaulted both atmosphere and eye.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

And if there's ever a Miss Sumptuous Cowling pageant, I thing the Whirlwind is in contention for the top three:

Positively tailored around the engine:

Goddamn ###y, those are. Mansfieldian...

 

[tokguy]

Goddamn ###y, those are. Mansfieldian...

Well, you didn't tip your hand as to favorite nudey movie star this time... and totally red faced if that wasn't you LoL
And keep posting the entertaining stuff

 

[x westie]

When not afflicted with tumours, the Lysander could be quite pretty:

My dad’s battalion was “ attacked” by Lysander aircraft ,to simulate a mock air attacks by dropping flour bags , and strafing attacks , this in no way was realistic to a attack by German Stuka dive bombers with its screaming siren several weeks later at Boulogne France , when his battalion, 2nd Welsh Guards & 2nd Irish Guards , and Royal Navy destroyers came under attack from the German Luftwaffe

 

[Bubba Yugga]

It's not a tumor!!!!

 

[RMXC51]

And to follow previous discussion here about lovely and sleek aircraft...

They were made to test the design's viability for strafing British beaches in case Germany returned and actually managed to invade Britain. It was originally to have 2, 20mm cannon attached to the undercarriage, but then they tried this design, which proved to be both very stable for strafing, and highly maneuverable. It was sent for trials, but did not go into production as the threat of invasion vanished. So the Lysander went back to performing brilliantly at special operations.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

One luckless ME-110 from several different angles:

In happier times:

 

[CV32]

After a sixteen year restoration Hawker Hurricane Mk XII RCAF Serial Number 5447 (c/n CCF/46002) made its first flight on 23 April 2022. The fighter, registered as CF-TPM, is owned by the Vintage Wings of Canada collection in Gatineau (QUE).
It was initially salvaged and restored by Harry Whereatt, a farmer and warbird lover from Assiniboia (SK). Harry made a few flights in the plane as C-GGAJ before he sold it to Mike Potter/VWC.
After its arrival at the Vintage Wings facility in Gatineau, Québec, the Hurricane was stripped of it skin for inspection. It was then decided to take the aircraft down and start over, including the installation of an all-new wing centre section. The restoration was taken up by Vintech Aero, a company owned by Mike Potter.
The restored Hurricane has been finished in the unique and very distinctive markings of a Hurricane Mk.I (Serial ‘P2961’, with code ‘LE-A’) as was flown by FO Willie McKnight, DFC, a Canadian pilot in No 242 sq. RAF. McKnight failed to return from a mission over the north of France on 12 January 1941.
The squadron nose art included a cheeky depiction of Hitler being booted in the ass by a black flying boot with 242 written on it. But more strikingly, the side of the fuselage carried a large representation of a skeletal grim reaper with a sickle in hand pointing forward to the enemy he is about to claim.
On its first flight in sixteen years, the Hurricane was flown by VWC chief pilot Dave Hadfield, closely watched from an Extra 330 chase plane by restoration project leader Pat Tenger.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

McKnight Boulevard in Calgary is named after FO McKnight.

Barlow Trail is named after Douglas Bader's mechanic, Noel Barlow. Story is here: https://athabaskang07.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/a-street-in-calgary-named-after-him-but-nobody-knows/

 

[Grizzly Adams]

McKnight Boulevard in Calgary is named after FO McKnight.

Barlow Trail is named after Douglas Bader's mechanic, Noel Barlow. Story is here: https://athabaskang07.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/a-street-in-calgary-named-after-him-but-nobody-knows/

Shh, next they'll want to hang one of those unpronounceable Aboriginal names on them.

Grizz

 

[Canadian Sig]

Mountains of Northern Afghanistan 2003

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Pretty country. Damn shame.

 

[HuskyDude]

 

[john@]

I would also include

 

[grelmar]

The French copy no-one, and no-one copies the French.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Pretty country. Damn shame.

Historically a Killing Ground.

Grizz

 

[purple]

Historically a Killing Ground.

Grizz

The lesson of Afghanistan is to stay the hell away from it. Too much history, too much culture, and too much geography have defeated foreign invaders many times in recent history; British, Russian and NATO. Maybe the Chinese will do it differently.