Two seaters versus single seaters

[PR19_Kit]

It's often been a watchword of mine that two seater derivatives of some aircraft look a loot better than their single seater originals. On the other hand some are a lot worse, the Lightning being a case in point. Of course this is all very subjective but I'd be interested in the opinions of others on this stuff. Proposed two seaters that never got built are allowed in the list.

2 seater looks better than the single seater

Su-27
Skyhawk
F-106
F-100
F-86
Harrier
Mirage F-1


2 seater looks worse than the single seater

Lightning
Typhoon
F-102
Mig 15
Attacker
Scimitar
Mig-29


Neutral

Hunter
F-105
F-9F

[GeorgeC]

Some of those 2-seaters we so ugly Supermarine couldn't bring themselves to actually build them so you must be right!  Not sure about the Harrier though, having to stick all that 'boom' out the back stops it from looking 'right' to me...

[darthspud]

2 seater Spitfire?
I really just don't know.

[sandiego89]

It's often been a watchword of mine that two seater derivatives of some aircraft look a loot better than their single seater originals. On the other hand some are a lot worse, the Lightning being a case in point. Of course this is all very subjective but I'd be interested in the opinions of others on this stuff. Proposed two seaters that never got built are allowed in the list.

2 seater looks better than the single seater

Su-27
Skyhawk
F-106
F-100
F-86
Harrier
Mirage F-1


2 seater looks worse than the single seater

Lightning
Typhoon
F-102
Mig 15
Attacker
Scimitar
Mig-29


Neutral

Hunter
F-105
F-9F

Good list, I will add:

2 seater better:
Hawk, Single seat 200 looks terrible/out of proportion
F-106, agree
Harrier (agree with Kit) first gen especially, second generation closer to neutral
Impala
Mitsubishi F-1- looks like they just sheet metalled over the second seat of the T-2
F-16D/F with the spine
F-8 "Two-sader" (one built)
F-5.  Two seat or T-38 has much better lines

2 seater worse:
Mirage III/Cheetah/Dagger
Rafale
Me-262
Meteor
A-7
F-15 B/D (somehow looks OK the F-15E)
F-16B
Saab 35 Draken
MiG-25 step down nose trainer
U-2 with the second bubble
F-22 (proposed only)
MiG-23
A-10

Neutral
F-101 Voodoo- both look pretty good in different ways.  
F-100
Saab Viggen
A-4 Skyhawk- disagree- just too much glass. And the double bubble singapore version looks bad.  
Su-25

[McColm]

I have to disagree about the Lightning as the layout is the same as the Hunter two seater ans that looks impressive now as it did when they were new.
The F-4 Phantom would have looked better as a single seater, same goes for the Tornado. The German's flew these as single seaters.

[martinbayer]

To me, single seaters almost always invariably look better than two seaters, especially those in tandem arrangement. It's a bit like a sports coupe vs. a family sedan ...

Martin

[JayBee]

IMHO two seaters that were designed that way from the beginning look better than a single seat derivative.
Take the F-4, the original plan was to be a single seat fleet defence aircraft and in fact that is what the mock-up was built as. The final product looks right as a two seater.
The Tornado also does not look right as a single seater.
The Javelin would look just silly as a single seater.
The Sea Vixen..... OK who would know.
Etc, Etc, Etc.......

[PR19_Kit]

The Javelin would look just silly as a single seater.

Jim, I'm almost tempted. 

I've found I have two T3s in The Loft............... 

[scooter]

Even though the Blackbird is a two seater, and looks pretty sexy (in the air, where its not leaking all over the place), SR-71B just looks...worse IMHO

[kitnut617]

The Javelin would look just silly as a single seater.

Jim, I'm almost tempted.  

I've found I have two T3s in The Loft...............  

I think I'd be inclined to do one like this - --- that's the cockpit  --- not the rest of it

[jcf]

The Javelin would look just silly as a single seater.

Hmm, really?

[ericr]

one two-seater I just love is the Me163S



and I agree with Kit that two-seater variants have something special, even when looking a bit ugly.
The Harrier and Skyhawk look great with their magnified bubble canopy. Like a big eye, or swollen brain?

[ericr]

and I agree with Kit that two-seater variants have something special, even when looking a bit ugly.
The Harrier and Skyhawk look great with their magnified bubble canopy. Like a big eye, or swollen brain?

oh, and what about this twin-seater? (for which the single-seater was already quite a challenge ...)

[ericr]

and I agree with Kit that two-seater variants have something special, even when looking a bit ugly.
The Harrier and Skyhawk look great with their magnified bubble canopy. Like a big eye, or swollen brain?

oh, and what about this twin-seater? (for which the single-seater was already quite a challenge ...)

does this one count?

[PR19_Kit]

does this one count?

Absolutely, a wonderful looking aircraft. 

Much better looking than a standard Meteor T7, and maybe better than a standard F8 too.

Not only does the real thing still exist at the Cosford Museum, but Special Hobby do it as a kit, and excellent it is too.