Can we all take a minute to laugh at how gangly the Fairchild Metroliner is?

[EssExTee]

Look at it! It's so goofy. It looks like a beechcraft that hit a tween growth spurt.

[awesomeaustinv]

That plane's got some schnoz...

[facw]

@awesomeaustinv Looks like of like it only needs to be that long because there wouldn't be room to retract the nose gear otherwise.

[ttyymmnn]

@facw said in Can we all take a minute to laugh at how gangly the Fairchild Metroliner is?:

@awesomeaustinv Looks like of like it only needs to be that long because there wouldn't be room to retract the nose gear otherwise.

With luggage in the rear, that thing looks like an exercise in COG management.

[EssExTee]

@ttyymmnn I'm amazed it can get enough lift on those skinny skinny wings. The minimum takeoff speed must be super high.

[ttyymmnn]

@essextee said in Can we all take a minute to laugh at how gangly the Fairchild Metroliner is?:

@ttyymmnn I'm amazed it can get enough lift on those skinny skinny wings. The minimum takeoff speed must be super high.

It looks kind of like a Frankenplane because it is a Frankenplane.

[Roadkilled]

@awesomeaustinv Call that a schnoz? You want a schnoz, look at the RAF Nimrod.

[frinesi2]

@essextee there's nothing fair about that child that's for sure

[ForSweden]

All planes are beautiful fierce queens

[nth256]

@roadkilled - Got some junk in the trunk too, cripes!

[Taylor Martin]

@essextee My god those wings are tiny. I'll laugh at it, the real question is would you fly in it?

[awesomeaustinv]

@roadkilled That's not a schnoz, that's a tumor...

[RamblinRover]

@essextee My favorite "long fuselage is long" paired with having unsightly growths will always be the Trislander.

[6MT_FTW]

@essextee

As awkward as the Metro is, it certainly looks better than a once-sleek Beech 1900 that, after modifications to create the ‘D’ model, is almost as much of a ‘five head’ as the Big Ugly, err, A380.

Seriously, have you seen an aircraft with more aerodynamic doodads slapped on in order to make it fly properly? Perhaps this is where the designers of the 737 Max got their inspiration - modifying something far beyond what their initial designers had envisioned and what any sane person not bound by accountants would do.

[A Former User]

@roadkilled
How about the Gloster Meteor F8 (Prone Pilot).

[ttyymmnn]

@svend

Convair NC-131H Total In-Flight Simulator

[A Former User]

@ttyymmnn
looks like a better seating position than the Gloster.
It says the prone pilot in the event of a bail out had to first jettison the rudder pedals, crawl backwards, lower the nose wheel and drop out.
So it never flew without the secondary pilot.
It has 99 flights with 55 flying hours.

[ttyymmnn]

@svend The Northrop XP-79 had a prone pilot, and while the pilot could stand significantly higher G forces in that position, it really sucked to have to fly that way. The single XP-79 crashed, killing the pilot. He was able to bail out, but was struck by the spinning wing and didn't open his chute.

[kiltedpadre]

@roadkilled The EC-135 would like to throw it’s schnoz into the ring for this fight.

[Skyfire77]

@ttyymmnn It looks like it's budding off a new plane...

[Skyfire77]

@kiltedpadre "Wow, that's some schnozzola!"

[Roadkilled]

@kiltedpadre And there even the Chinese Y-8J.