Being an ex-Air force man I thought I had better throw in my picks.
Surprisingly, I'm not really an aeroplane person but here's my favourites in no particular order from when I was in the RAAF.
1. Dassault Mirage.
First flew in 1956 and still in service with the Pakistani Air Force.
No fancy pressure refuelling on these, climb up on top and fill it up like a truck!
Pic I took in the early 80's.
2. General Dynamics F-111.
The first real combat aircraft I ever saw up close, I could not believe how big they are/were.
Blew me away seeing the crew walk down the air intakes on their pre-flight checks.
3. de Havilland Caribou.
I just love the look of these old girls and I reckon they could near land one in my backyard.
another over wing refueller.
4.Douglas DC3 "Gooney Bird"
These were still in service when I joined the Air Force in 1979.
Had one sneak up behind me when I was sweeping the runway early one morning and frighten shit out of me.
6. Macchi MB-326.
These were the Air Force training jets and also used by the Roulette's aerobatic team when I was in the Raaf, I spent many a long hour refueling these day and night.
7. Spitfire
This pic was taken around 30 years ago and this particular aeroplane is still one of only 2 Spitfires still flying in Australia.
This one was at our base at the time for a publicity stunt to race the newly release V12 Bentley down the runway.
The Bentley got the jump on the Spitfire for the first couple of hundred meters, but then got blown into the weeds by the old girl.
8. Harrier.
Only ever saw these once, fine looking aircraft.
9.Lockheed P3 Orion
The Air Force first took delivery of these when I was still in school age 13 or 14 and they are still in service, remarkable to say the least.
10. Last but not least CT4 airtrainer.
Just before I left the Raaf one of my mates organised a flight for me in one of these piloted by one of the Roulette's, I think he thought he was flying a Pitt Special and needless to say managed to make me extremely sick.
He thought it was funny.