List of individual aircraft

Summary

This is a list of individual aircraft which are notable in their own right.

Name or designation Manufacturer / Type Role Owner / Operator Period Notability
Aerodrome Langley Experimental Samuel Pierpoint Langley 1903 Unsuccessful. The Smithsonian Institution later made fraudulent claims for its success.
Akutan Zero Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter US armed forces World War II Crash-landed on Akutan Island. It was recovered intact and test flown by the United States.
Aluminum Overcast Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber Experimental Aircraft Association 1945- One of ten flyable B-17s.
America (airship) Private 1906-1910 Non-rigid airship. Attempted to fly to the North Pole and to cross the Atlantic.
America (aircraft) Fokker C-2 Private Flown across the Atlantic in 1927.
Avro Avian G-EBOV Avro Avian Type 581A Experimental Queensland Museum 1927 The first solo flight between England and Australia, piloted by Bert Hinkler.
Balls 8 NB-52B variant of the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Research NASA 1955-2004 Mothership for the Bell X-15 rocket plane on many of its flights.
Bird of Paradise Fokker C-2 Research United States Army Air Corps 1927-1930 First flight from California to Hawaii on June 28–29, 1927.
Bockscar Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bomber United States Army Air Forces World War II Dropped the Fat Man atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
Bremen Junkers W 33 Private 1928 First transatlantic flight from east to west by a single-engined aircraft.
Caesar's Chariot Boeing 720 Transport Chartered by English rock band Led Zeppelin.
Cape Cod Bellanca Special J-300 Transport Russell Boardman and John Polando 1931 First nonstop flight of over 5,000 mi/8,000 km by a single-engined aircraft (New York City-Istanbul)[1][2]
China Clipper Martin M-130 Transport Pan American Airways 1934-1945 First commercial transpacific air service from San Francisco to Manila.
City of Canberra Boeing 747-400 Transport Qantas 1989-2015 Longest non-stop un-refuelled flight by an airliner, from London to Sydney in 1989.
Clipper Victor Boeing 747-121 Transport Pan American World Airways 1969-1977 Hijacked and flown to Cuba in 1970. One of two aircraft involved in the Tenerife airport disaster.
Colditz Cock Glider World War II Built by British prisoners of war being held in Oflag IV-C (aka Colditz Castle) for a proposed escape. Never flew.
Columbia, also named Miss Columbia and later Maple Leaf Experimental 1926-1934 Set several records, including one for endurance.
Commando Consolidated B-24 Liberator II Transport Royal Air Force World War II At one time the personal aircraft of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Disappeared over the North Atlantic with several government officials on board.
Cornfield Bomber Convair F-106 Delta Dart Fighter United States Air Force 1958-1988 After the pilot ejected during a flat spin, the unoccupied aircraft landed in a field, sustaining little damage.
Cuatro Vientos Br.19 TF Super Bidon Private 1929-1933 Flew from Spain to Cuba in 1933. Disappeared on a flight over Mexico.
Curtiss NC-4 Curtiss NC Patrol United States Navy 1919-1920 First aircraft to cross the Atlantic, making numerous stops along the way.
Curtiss No. 1, also known as Gold Bug and Golden Flyer Experimental 1909 Glenn Curtiss flew the aircraft to win the Scientific American trophy.
Curtiss No. 2, also known as the Reims Racer Experimental 1909-1910 Curtiss won the Gordon Bennett Cup air race in 1909.
Dago Red North American P-51 Mustang Private 1981- Restored as a competitive air racer and set several world records.
Dauntless Dotty Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bomber United States Army Air Forces World War II Led the first B-29 raid on Tokyo since the 1942 Doolittle Raid.
Deperdussin 1912 Racing Monoplane Private 1911(?)-1912 First aircraft to exceed 100 mph (161 km/h) in level flight.
DZ203 Boeing 247 Transport Royal Air Force World War II First aircraft to make fully automated hands-off approach and landing.
Enola Gay Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bomber United States Army Air Forces World War II Dropped the first atomic bomb, on the city of Hiroshima, Japan.
Ezekiel Airship Experimental Ezekiel Airship Company Destroyed c. 1904 Claimed to have flown in 1902, over a year before the Wright brothers' historic flight.
FIFI Boeing B-29 Superfortress Bomber Commemorative Air Force 1942- One of only two B-29s flying.
Flak-Bait Martin B-26 Marauder Bomber United States Army Air Forces World War II Survived the most bombing missions in the war.
G for George Avro Lancaster Bomber Royal Australian Air Force World War II Surviving example.
The Galloping Ghost North American P-51D Mustang Private Won air races under various owners. Crashed in the 2011 Reno Air Races.
Glacier Girl Lockheed P-38 Lightning Fighter 1942 Surviving example.
Glamorous Glennis Bell X-1 Experimental United States Air Force First to break the sound barrier in level flight.
Gossamer Albatross MacCready Experimental AeroVironment 1979 First human-powered aircraft to cross the English Channel.
GlobalFlyer Scaled Composites GlobalFlyer Experimental Steve Fossett 2005-2006 Set a record for flying nonstop around the world.
Gyroplane Laboratoire Experimental 1935-1939 Helicopter. Set several records.
Gyroplane No.1 Breguet-Richet Gyroplane Experimental 1907-1909 First quadcopter to fly.
Hawaii Clipper Martin M-130 Transport Pan American Airways 1935(?)-1938 Disappeared with six passengers and nine crew en route from Guam to Manila.
Helicopter 66 Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King ASW / SAR U.S. Navy 1967-1975 Crashed in the Pacific Ocean while on a training exercise.[3]
Honolulu Clipper Boeing 314 Clipper Transport Pan American Airways
United States Navy
1939
World War II
The prototype 314, it entered service in 1939 on transpacific routes. Forced landing in the Pacific Ocean on November 3, 1945.
Ingenuity One off by JPL Experimental NASA 2021 - First powered atmospheric flight on other celestial body
Jason de Havilland DH.60 Moth Private Amy Johnson Johnson became the first female aviator to fly from England to Australia, in Jason.
June Bug AEA Experimental Aerial Experiment Association 1908-1909 Won the first aeronautical prize ever awarded in the United States: the Scientific American Cup.
Junkers Ju 52 WkNr 130714 Junkers Ju 52/3mg8e Transport Quax Association 1936-2019 One of the oldest surviving Ju 52s
Kookaburra Westland Widgeon Private Set down in the Australian Tanami Desert to make repairs and the crew died of thirst before they could clear a runway long enough to take off from.
Kuiper Airborne Observatory Lockheed C-141A Starlifter Research NASA 1974-1995 Used for infrared astronomy research.
Lady Be Good Consolidated B-24 Liberator Bomber United States Army Air Forces World War II Surviving example.
Lady Southern Cross Lockheed Altair Private 1934-1935 First eastward transpacific flight from Australia to the United States. Disappeared while attempting to break the speed record from England to Australia.
Lituanica Bellanca CH-300 Private 1932-1933 Attempted a flight from New York to Kaunas, Lithuania, but crashed in Germany.
LN514 Vickers Wellington Bomber Royal Air Force 1943-? Constructed in under 24 hours for propaganda purposes.
Lucky Lady II Boeing B-50 Superfortress Bomber United States Air Force 1948-1950 First airplane to circle the world nonstop.
LZ 1 Zeppelin Experimental Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Luftschifffahrt 1900 First successful rigid airship.
LZ 37 Zeppelin Bomber Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) World War I First Zeppelin shot down by an enemy aircraft.
LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin Zeppelin Transport Luftschiffbau Zeppelin 1928-1940 Most successful airship in history; regular flights to North and South America; world tour in 1929, Arctic trip in 1931.
LZ 129 Hindenburg Zeppelin Transport Luftschiffbau Zeppelin 1936-1937 Crashed and burned while landing, in one of the most famous air disasters of all time.
Memphis Belle Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber United States Army Air Forces World War II Surviving example.
Miss Veedol, later The American Nurse Bellanca CH-400 or Bellanca J-300 Private First non-stop crossing of the Pacific Ocean from Japan to the United States, crash landing in Washington State. Sold and renamed The American Nurse. Disappeared while attempting to fly from New York to Rome.
My Gal Sal Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber 1942 One of only three intact B-17Es.
N763A Douglas R4D-3 Transport 1942- Used by the US Navy during World War II. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
N836D Douglas DC-7B Transport 1958-1965 (commercial use);
1965-2013 (private use)
NASA 515 Heavily modified Boeing 737 Research NASA 1967-2003 First 737 built.
Nine-O-Nine Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber United States Army Air Forces World War II Surviving example.
Norge Private Semi-rigid airship. First overflight of, and the first trip of any kind to, the North Pole.
L'Oiseau Blanc Levasseur PL.8 biplane Private 1927 Disappeared while attempting the first non-stop transatlantic flight between Paris and New York, two weeks before Lindbergh's successful flight the other way.
Old 666 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber United States Army Air Forces World War II Surviving example.
Old Glory Fokker F.VIIa Private Lost while attempting to fly across the Atlantic from New York.
PA474 Avro Lancaster Bomber Royal Air Force 1945- One of only two Lancasters in flying condition.
Pacific Clipper Boeing 314 Clipper Transport Pan American World Airways As the California Clipper, flew around the world. Renamed afterward.
Pedaliante Experimental 1936-1937 Made one of the first human-powered flights.[4][5]
Philippine Clipper Martin M-130 Transport Pan American Airways
United States Navy
1935-1943
World War II
Inaugurated passenger service between the United States and Manila, the Philippines. Crashed in 1943 with the loss of all on board.
Piccadilly Lilly II Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber Edward T. Maloney ?-1959;
1959-1971
Surviving example. Featured on TV show Twelve O'Clock High.
The Pink Lady Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber United States Army Air Forces 1944- Surviving example.
Plus Ultra Dornier Do J Private 1926 First transatlantic flight between Spain and South America.
PZ865 Hawker Hurricane Fighter Royal Air Force 1944- Last Hurricane produced. Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Question Mark Modified C-2A Transport United States Army Air Corps Modified for aerial refueling experiments. Set several world endurance records.
R34 British R33-class airship Military airship Royal Air Force 1919-1921 First-ever aircraft of any type to make a transatlantic flight from east to west (July 2-6, 1919)
Rare Bear Highly modified Grumman F8F Bearcat Private Won many Reno Air Races.
Red Baron Modified North American P-51D Mustang Private 1967-1973 Raced as Miss R.J. and Roto-Finish Special, winning the Unlimited circuit.
Red Wing AEA Experimental 1908 First public demonstration of a powered aircraft flight in the United States, crashed after 20 seconds and written off.
Sally B Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Bomber B-17 Preservation Ltd 1945- Surviving example. Featured in the 1990 film Memphis Belle.
Santos-Dumont number 6 Private Alberto Santos-Dumont 1901 Airship. Won the Deutsch de la Meurthe prize for a flight from Parc Saint Cloud to the Eiffel Tower and back.
Santos-Dumont 14-bis Oiseau de proie Private Alberto Santos-Dumont 1906 First officially witnessed sustained flight by a heavier-than-air craft on October 23, 1906.
Sausewind Private 1925 Won in several categories in the 1925 Otto Lilienthal competition.
Sentimental Journey Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Bomber Commemorative Air Force 1945- Surviving example.
Shady Lady Consolidated B-24 Liberator Bomber United States Army Air Forces World War II Surviving example.
Shoo Shoo Baby Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber 1944-1961 Surviving example.
Silver Dart Experimental 1909 First powered, heavier-than-air machine to fly in Canada.
Southern Cross Fokker F.VIIb/3m Private 1928 First transpacific flight to Australia from the mainland United States.
Spirit of St. Louis Private 1927 Charles Lindbergh's aircraft for the first solo non-stop crossing of the Atlantic.
Spirit of Texas Bell 206L-1 LongRanger II helicopter Private 1982 First helicopter to complete a staged round-the world flight.
Spruce Goose Hughes H-4 Hercules Experimental Evergreen Aviation Museum 1947 The largest flying boat ever built, and the largest wingspan of any aircraft that has ever flown.
St. Raphael Fokker F.VIIa Private 1927 Lost while attempting the first Atlantic crossing from east to west.
Stargazer Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Research Orbital ATK 1994- Used as a mother ship to launch Pegasus rockets.
The Starship Boeing 720 Transport Singer and actor Bobby Sherman and his manager, Ward Sylvester 1970s Leased to touring musical artists.
Supermarine Spitfire prototype K5054 Supermarine Spitfire Fighter Royal Air Force 1936 Only prototype of iconic aircraft.
Swamp Ghost Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber 1941 Surviving example.
The Swoose Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber United States Army Air Forces World War II Oldest surviving B-17.
Texas Raiders Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Bomber Commemorative Air Force 1944-2022 Destroyed in Mid Air Collision November 12, 2022
That's All, Brother Douglas C-47 Skytrain Transport Commemorative Air Force 1944- Led the formation of aircraft in the D-Day landings.
Thunderbird Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Bomber 1943-1945 Surviving example.
Tingmissartoq Lockheed Model 8 Sirius Private Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh 1929-1933
Vega 1 balloon Lavochkin Research USSR June 1985 First unpowered atmospheric flight on another celestial body
Vin Fiz Flyer Modified Wright Model B (Model EX) Private Calbraith Perry Rodgers 1911 First to fly coast to coast in stages across the United States.
VS-300 Vought-Sikorsky Experimental 1939-1943 First successful single-rotor helicopter in the United States, first successful use of a single vertical tail rotor to counteract torque and, with floats attached, first practical amphibious helicopter.
Voyager Experimental 1984-1987 First aircraft to fly around the world without stopping or refueling.
White Knight Scaled Composites Experimental
Research
Scaled Composites 2000s mother ship for the SpaceShipOne and Boeing X-37 experimental spaceplanes.
Worry Bird North American P-51 Mustang Fighter 1944-1957 (military use);
in airworthy condition at the Air Combat Museum
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Wright Flyer Experimental Wright brothers 1903 First successful heavier-than-air powered flight, on December 17, 1903.
XH558, aka Spirit of Great Britain Avro Vulcan Bomber Vulcan To The Sky Trust 1960-1993;
2007-2015
Restored to flight in 2007, finally grounded in 2015.
Yankee Lady Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber Yankee Air Force 1945- Surviving example.

References edit

  1. ^ "'Cape Cod's' Success Climaxes 5 Years [of] Bellanca Records". The Sunday Morning Star, Wilmington, DE. August 2, 1931. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  2. ^ Polando, Johnnie (2000). Wings Over Istanbul: The Life and Flights of a Pioneer Aviator. Portsmouth, NH: P.E. Randall Publisher. ISBN 0914339842.
  3. ^ Day, Dwayne (September 17, 2017). "It's time to recover Helo 66". The Space Review. Archived from the original on February 7, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  4. ^ Muscle Assisted Flights Before 1939 Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, humanpoweredflying.propdesigner.co.uk (recovered November 9, 2015)
  5. ^ Rea, D.A.; "The History of Man-Powered Flight", Pergamon, 1977, Page 111