Can't Get a Date from a Calendar

If an airplane is beautiful it's only because it has to be. For the most part form follows function in aircraft design. The laws of aerodynamics, or stealth technology, require it. They set out to be fast or fuel efficient or stealthy and end up being strikingly beautiful. The 747, P-51, SR-71, and F-16 are beautiful planes. It's easy to add the F-86, F-22, 777, and many others to the list of aesthetically pleasing planes as well.

Other aircraft however fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down, like the A380 (pictured below). It's an exciting new airliner that is the largest commercial plane ever built, but it's also really ugly. Can an airplane look a little slow (and I don't mean airspeed)?


It's okay to be ugly. The B-52, A-10, F-4, and many others are so ugly their reflection looks away. Yet ugly planes can be important, useful, and historic, which brings an affection all its own.

But until it proves otherwise, the pudgy A380 is going to have to get by with a nice personality.