Best warbird to own

In article ,
Frank Stutzman wrote:

I nominiate the Polikarpov I-16. Fits the bill nicely except for being two
seat. However it makes up for this by being open cockpit.

see http://www.ctrl-c.liu.se/misc/ram/i-16-links.html

The first of the "modern" monoplane fighters, and a true
classic. Reputation for tricky handling on the ground and
in landing, though - backed up by comments in Aeroplane
mONTHLY a year or so ago when they had an article by
someone who'd just flown one.

If we regard this as simply an exercise in theory - that
is, it doesn't matter that there aren't any for sale
then I'd be inclined to go out on a limb and suggest
one of the classic Hawker two-seaters (Hart, Hind, Demon
or Osprey - pretty, fast for their day and the Kestrel
should be usefully less thirsty than a Merlin. Or a
Fairey Fox, for that matter. And having brought Fairey
up, I'd be inclined to go right out on a limb for the
monoplanes and suggest a Battle or Fulmar - Merlin
powered, so plenty of upgrade potential for power,
usefully quick (you're not going to be hanging a
full bomb load under tha Battle..), agile (spectacularly
so in the case of the Fulmar), notably sweet-handling and
viceless, certainly in the case of the Fulmar (Norman
Hanson reckoned it to be one of the most polite aeroplanes
he'd flown) and tough as old boots, especially in the case
of the Fulmar again (a carrier aeroplane *and* a Fairey
product - go figure). You could probably pack at least
another seat in too.

Failing that, and if you can compromise on turbines, how
about a DH Vampire trainer - two side-by-side seats,
easier handling 'tis said than late-generation piston-
engined warbirds, small and neat.

--
Andy Breen ~ Interplanetary Scintillation Research Group
http://users.aber.ac.uk/azb/
"Time has stopped, says the Black Lion clock
and eternity has begun" (Dylan Thomas)