If I Had All the Money in the World

In the air it looks like a mini-Connie

With all the money in the world you could do two and give me one.

Hal, I like the way you think! 

If I had all the money in the world, I'd have a flying replica of each of the old Lockheed plywood bullets built, starting with the Air Express!

Of course you start with the Air Express - first the parasol, then the high-wing Vega, then the low-wing Orion at which point I will officially become your new best friend.

Zack,

I agree with you!  If I had the money (and it would take a LOT of money) I'd put together a team to build a replica of the Lockheed Air Express.  What a hoot it would be to have an Air Express making the fly-in and airshow circuit!  It would be a VERY impressive airplane.

Maybe when I win the lottery!

Cheers!

Joe

As I seem to remember from an article I read many years ago, the DH91 had a weak spot just forward of the tail.  Another British airliner from the same period is the Armstrong Whitworth Ensign.  How about getting a new British Best Friend (me!) and reconstructing one of these.  A very few actually survived WW2, unusual after being left to the tender mercies of wartime usage!  Nice to see the movies especially of that great pre-war aviator A E Clouston with Mrs Kirby-Green in the DH88 Comet.

http://www.planefacts.co.uk/cards/makers_a/pages/aw_ensign_jpg.htm 

Ray - I'm in! Add the Ensign to the fleet.

Here's my business plan thus far:

Step 1: Get all the money in the world.
Step 2: Spend it on airplanes.

Just broad strokes, mind you, but I think it's sound!

Speaking of ... well, just what we're speaking of: Do you know anything about the "Hannibal 2" H.P.42 project? I haven't seen or heard any news from them in some time.

Not been able to find out much info on the Hannibal project but here is a rather nice pic http://www.hannibal-ii.co.uk/ 

As this gentleman was the project leading light, it may now be on permanent hold

How about a Short C Class Empire Flying Boat, the last time one was built it only cost £40,000 and we could recoup the money by flying cruises in the Carribean. 

WARNING - The Surgeon General has determined that this post may contain a nut!!

There's something about this photo that brings a smile to my face.  I hope I am still that passionate about aviation when I am that age (if I make it that far)!

I'm with you on the brand, but I think I'd prefer the Dehavilland Comet Racer.  At OSH this year my group discussed

If I had all the money in the world, I wouldn't be posting this, I'd be out flying one of my many, many planes, helicopters, ultralights, LSA's, etc, etc, etc.

I would build a Heinkel HE100.

That would be right after building a Percival Mew Gull in an Edgar Percival original configuration, not the highly modified Essex Aero Jack Cross modified Mew Gull for Alex Henshaw.

Yes, even Alex Henshaw admitted that the Essex Aero version was a "hot machine"

Four words:

"China Clipper calling Alameda"

I'd have 2 or 3 on the short list.

1: Bellanca Aircruiser/Airbus. The flying W. Nearly 4,000 pounds in useful load. Never really had a chance within the United States, due to the ban of single engine airline operations as it came about.

2: Lockheed Constellation. One of the coolest old airliners ever. I've been fortunate enough to see one, in Kansas City.

3: Saab 90 Scandia. European competition to the DC-3, in a way. Not very many made, and only 1 around any more (not flyable).

Hi Hal,

This is the best I can do for a HP42, it was a fourteen foot wingspan flying model at the Large Model Aircraft meeting at East Kirkby in Lincolnshire UK.

Ray

Magnificent, Ray! I'll take it!

It would look lovely parked under my print of Coulson's "Croydon Departure":

Still caqnnot find any information on the HP42 project, but here is a link from YouTube of the first flight of Hannibal in 1930 which may be of interest if you have not already seen it.  First Flight HP42 Hannibal 

Regards

Ray