By Jeff Glucker
We could argue about which car or truck is the greatest ever built. There would be lots of awesome answers, of course. But I want to expand that question to include all vehicles. Which machines would you put on the list of Greatest Vehicles Ever Built?
An easy way to start the list is with the SR-71. There’s a wonderful YouTube channel called Animagraffs, which does an awesome job showing you how things work. They have an extensive video that walks through the SR-71, and though it’s long, it’s also worth your time.
Beyond the SR-71, what are some other great vehicles? It can be a car or truck, of course, but I’d also like to hear about ships, tanks, trains, rockets, etc.
Apollo 11’s CSM-107 and LM-5. End of story.
I think I’d agree with you as far as overall vehicle – nothing else holds as many records, did its job as well, and still unmatched.
I’d add:
original Beetle – nothing else compared to what it did when it did it.
Jaguar D-type for sheer sensuality and grace
channel boring machine – has only one job (well, two) and did it better than anything else
Missing others, just starting the lists. Cheers
I’d argue that the SR-71 was exceeded in every measure of epic-ness by the X-15. Read X-15 pilot Milton Thompson’s “technical memoir” At The Edge of Space and you will surely agree.
I agree the X-15 vere likely belongs on the list, but not that it outshines the SR-71/A12/YF-12 series.
Strap a rocket on a barely-plane and use it once before strapping another rocket in there? Versus come up with a whole new fuel (that doesn’t burn on its own and has to be exploded to get it burning), whole new engines that run both as jet engines AND ramjet engines, stealth before stealth, air-breath speed (that still has yet to be exceeded), altitude that only just missed space, technology that hadn’t even existed.
The X-15 was evolutionary – the SR-71 was revolutionary.