Interesting collection of airplanes, Chuck!
I was trying to explain why I like some airplanes ... in no particular order
here are some characteristics I subjectively like:
1) it goes very fast
2) it goes very slow
3) it has wonderful, light, balanced flight controls that are very effective
4) great power to weight ratio. Enough thrust to consume all your fuel in a matter of minutes.
5) low drag - esp under high G (low induced drag at high alpha)
6) low wing loading ==> it turns like a bandit
7) high wing loading ==> a great ride in the bumps
8) ridiculously strong airframe. Design G at least +/- 15G, Ultimate (yield) at +/-30G.
9) tailwheel
10) tube & fabric
11) radial engine
12) biplane
13) great visibility. Either an open cockpit, or a bubble canopy.
14) stick - not a steering wheel - in your right hand
15) throttle(s) in your left hand
16) light rudder pedals with stirrups and long, smooth, light travel (T-34 was the worst)
Now, you're never going to find an airplane that ticks all the boxes, but you might get some.
PS People can roll their eyes about "open cockpit" but one day, my friend Bobby
didn't latch the canopy on his L39 and guess what he did. Yup, lost the canopy
on takeoff - I didn't see it, my wife actually did - and he drove around the pattern
at 200+ knots with an open cockpit. Said it was kind of breezy. Perfect landing.
Dear Old Dad was pretty impressed. Everyone he knew in the RCAF that lost a canopy
(Sabre, -104, etc) ejected and had a pretty bad day, all around.
Bobby makes me look normal. TC hates him even more than me. After he dies,
I have some incredible stories to tell. Some of them might even be true.
-- EDIT --
The most precious airplane, regardless of it's score on the list above, is probably
the one about to become extinct. I know I'm really weird, but I want to fly airplanes
that are soon going to disappear forever. That is precious knowledge to me. I know,
I should get another hobby like motorcycles or guns or dogs.
