Which classic aircraft did you vote to the top?
William T. Piper and Walter Beech got it right, according to you, our classic aircraft voters.
In a survey of more than 35 aircraft designed or built prior to Dec. 31, 1960, the Piper J–3 Cub came out on top with 36.27 percent of the 2,305 votes, followed by the Beech Model 17 Staggerwing in the No. 2 position with 35.36 percent of votes.
Cessna devotees and pilots shouldn’t be disappointed because you voted the radial-engine Cessna 195 into the sixth spot, ahead of the sprightly Globe Swift retractable. The stout Ryan Navion was No. 8 in front of the cabin-class Spartan Executive. The round-tailed Cessna 170 held down the No. 10 position.
It was a real horse-race for the No. 11 and No. 12 spots, with the Grumman Goose edging the Waco F Series by a nose.
Fred Weick aficionados can take heart that his twin-tailed Ercoupe and Hershey-bar winged Piper Cherokee designs both cracked the top 15, coming in at No. 13 and No. 14, respectively, while the Cessna 182 held firm at No. 15.
We expanded the “classic” designation beyond the traditional 1955 judging year to include significant designs that took shape in the late 1950s because we didn’t want to leave out many models that we know, fly, and love so well.
David Tulis
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