Unusual aircraft. Types of aircraft

Planes and helicopters are not the only aircrafts that can be seen in the sky. And in our today's review, you can collect 7 of the best and most unusual aircraft that were really created on our planet at different times.

1. Spacecraft - NASA "M2-F1"

NASA "M2-F1" is an unusual aircraft that was designed specifically for use by astronauts in space research. This aircraft made its first flight back in August back in 1963.

2. American fighter - Northrop XP-79B

The Northrop XP-79B is an American fighter aircraft manufactured by Northrop back in 1945. Unfortunately, this model took off only once and was able to stay in the sky for 15 minutes, after which it crashed.

3. Futuristic aircraft - Hyper III

Hyper III is perhaps the most unusual aircraft that was designed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration research space center back in 1969.

4. Test aircraft - Vought V-173

The Vought V-173 is an American test aircraft designed by engineer Charles Zimmerman. The main feature of this model is vertical takeoff and short landing. It is worth noting that for its unusual appearance, the aircraft was called the Flying Pancake.

5. Flight module, part of the Apollo project

This flight module is part of the Apollo project, which was designed specifically for the first landing on the moon. It is worth noting that this model was equipped with one jet engine, however, it was able to successfully complete its mission.

6. Flying saucer - VZ-9-AV Avrocar

The VZ-9-AV Avrocar is an unusual flying saucer made in Canada by Avro Aircraft Ltd. The aircraft made its first flight in 1961, but unfortunately the project did not meet the expectations of the creators and was soon closed.

7. First aircraft - Boeing Vertol VZ-2

The Boeing Vertol VZ-2 is the first aircraft to use vertical, short takeoff and landing. This copy made its first flight back in the middle of 1957, and after it successfully passed all the tests, it was transferred to science Center NASA.

And fans of military aviation should definitely take a look at

Most of these aircraft are experimental models that never took off from the ground. In today's selection you will find an overview of the most non-standard flying structures created at different times by aircraft developers from different countries.

The development of NASA "M2-F1" was nicknamed "Flying Bath". It was supposed to be used as a capsule for landing astronauts. The first test flight took place on August 16, 1963. And in 1966 - the last.

From mid-1979 to January 1983, two remote-controlled aircraft were tested at NASA Air Force Base. Compared to conventional fighters, they were significantly smaller, more maneuverable, and could withstand greater G-forces.

The prototype aircraft McDonell Douglas X-36 aircraft designers came up with just to make sure the flying abilities of tailless aircraft. It was developed in 1977. Remote control.

Ames AD-1 (Ames AD-1) - the world's first oblique wing aircraft. Experimental model 1979. His tests were carried out for about three years. After that, the plane was placed in the museum of the city of San Carlos.

The wings of the Boeing Vertol VZ-2 rotate. A distinctive feature from other similar aircraft is its ability to take off vertically and hover in the air. Was developed in 1957. After a series of successful tests that lasted for three whole years, it was transferred to the NASA research center.

The heaviest and most lifting helicopter ever built in the world was developed by Soviet scientists - employees of the design bureau. M. L. Mil in 1969. It is capable of lifting a load weighing 40 tons to a height of 2250 meters. No one has yet managed to break this record.

Avrocar is an aircraft developed in 1952 in Canada. Scientists worked on its creation for seven years, but the project was a failure. Max Height, which the “plate” was able to climb did not exceed one and a half meters.

Northrop XP-79B had two jet engines and a very strange look. According to the idea of ​​the American developers, the fighter was supposed to dive on enemy bombers and break them, chopping off the tail section. But the first flight in 1945 ended in disaster. It happened at the fifteenth minute of the flight.

In 2007, the Boeing X-48 (Boeing X-48) was recognized as the best invention according to a Times poll. This is the result of a joint collaboration American company Boeing and NASA agencies. The first flight took place in the summer of 2007. unmanned vehicle climbed to a height of 2300 meters and landed safely after 31 minutes.

Another non-standard NASA development is a flying NASA spacecraft Hyper III.

The legendary Vought V-173 aircraft, created by American engineer Charles Zimmerman, was often called the "Flying Pancake" for its unusual appearance. But, despite this, he had excellent flight properties. It was the Vought V-173 that became one of the first vertical/short takeoff and landing vehicles.

The HL-10 was used to study and test the ability to safely maneuver and land on a low lift-to-drag craft after it returned from space. NASA development.

Su-47 "Berkut" is a carrier-based fighter designed in 1997 at the OKB im. Sukhoi (Russia). Composite materials were used to create it. hallmark are swept back wings. On this moment refers to experimental models.

The Grumman X-29 is a major 1984 design by Grumman Aerospace Corporation. It can be safely called the prototype of the Russian Su-47 Berkut. In total, two such fighters were assembled (special order of the US Defense Advanced Research and Development Agency).

The LTV XC-142 is capable of vertical takeoff. He is the owner of swivel wings. Its first flight took place on September 29, 1964. In 1970, the project was frozen. Of the five aircraft built, only one has survived to this day. It became part of the display of the US Air Force Museum.

The experimental ekranoplan, developed in the design bureau of R. E. Alekseev, was officially called the “Ship-Layout” or abbreviated as “KM”, but it was often called simply the “Caspian Monster”. Its wing span was 37.6 m, length - 92 m, maximum take-off weight -544 tons. For 15 years, numerous experimental flights were carried out, but in 1980, due to pilot error, the giant crashed. Fortunately, there were no casualties. But there were no attempts to restore the KM.

The Super Guppy is nicknamed the "Air Whale" and is used by NASA to deliver large items to the ISS. The development belongs to Aero Spacelines.

Monoplane firm "Douglas" with a sharp nose - an experimental model. The first test flight took place in 1952.

This module, created in 1963, was part of the grandiose Apollo project. It was planned to be used for landing on the moon. It had only one jet engine.

The Sikorsky S-72 first took to the skies on October 12, 1976. In 1987, the already modernized S-72 saw the light. But soon the project was closed due to insufficient funding.

Ryan X-13A-RY Vertijet was designed in 1950 in America. This is a VTOL jet aircraft commissioned by the US Air Force.

Another module for landing on the moon. It was also part of the Apollo project. Designed in 1964. Capable of vertical landing and takeoff.

Convair Pogo

The Grumman X23 or "Pogo" represents a radical departure from the norms of aircraft engineering, from simple eccentricity to complete absurdity. The hull was built much like a normal aircraft, with the exception of the rotor attached to the nose cone, which lifted the aircraft vertically into the air. Unlike most VTOL aircraft, the Pogo took off nose up like a rocket with wheels attached to its tail keel. The cockpit canopy was designed in a 90-degree outward position, which required the pilot to lie perpendicular to the ground as the car took to the air. Then, after leveling off the flight path, the Pogo continued to fly like normal aircraft. This ship went through a series of successful tests, but like all "strange" projects, it did not receive further development.

Convair V2 Sea Dart

The job of a pilot is not always limited to simple aircraft. And the control of a fighter jet that can land on water right in the middle of the ocean turns the pilot into the driver of a giant jet ski. The Convair Sea Dart is an experimental American fighter aircraft designed in 1951 as a prototype for a supersonic seaplane. It was equipped with a waterproof hull and two hydrofoils. The Convair Sea Dart was discontinued after a fatal accident. However, before that, under the control of Sam Shannon, this aircraft became the first (and to this day the only) hydroplane, overcame sound barrier.

McDonnell Douglas X-15

The X-15 is an even older design, but it was such a significant and unusual breakthrough in aircraft construction that it remains unsurpassed to this day. The first tests took place in 1959. The X-15 rocket plane was 15.5 meters long, with tiny three-meter wings on either side. During a series of tests, the aircraft was lifted to a height of 30.5 kilometers, and two of them were counted as space flights. During its passage through the atmosphere, its speed was six times the speed of sound. The body of the aircraft was coated with a nickel alloy similar in composition to that found in meteorites. This allowed the aircraft not to burn up when entering the Earth's atmosphere. huge weight and big power X-15 created the basis for describing the characteristics of extreme aircraft.

Blohm und Voss BV 141

In nature, symmetry is important in everything - from the eyes to the wings. In the principles of reverse engineering, inspired by the rules of nature, this axiom is equally true for engines, keels and tails of aircraft. But during World War II, the German aircraft builders Dornier created a reconnaissance aircraft and a light bomber with a single wing, an engined tail boom on one side, and a cockpit just behind them. This design, which has significant deviations from accepted norm, may not seem reliable, but, nevertheless, the location of the cockpit on the right side of the propeller counteracts the torque and helps the plane fly straight. This strange aircraft not only took off from the ground, but also served as inspiration for the creation of a project for a modern sports aircraft with a similar design.

Imagine a houseboat combined with an airplane. It was this idea that underlay the Caproni Ca.60 Noviplano project. Machina, created in 1920, changed all existing standards for evaluating aircraft with multiple wings. And so much so that the Red Fokker Richtofen (Richtofen's Red Fokker) would look just ordinary. This huge floating aircraft (21.5 meters long and 55 tons in weight) was to be the first transatlantic aircraft in the history of aviation. Borrowing from theory the concept that enough wings can make anything fly, the ship-shaped hull was attached with three wings in the front, three in the middle, and a third set of wings in the back instead of a tail. This strange unearthly apparatus can be described as a triple triplane. Nothing like it has ever been built. Takeoff was not a problem for this aircraft, but the very first flight ended in disaster when the plane gained a height of 18 meters. Caprioni said that he would fix it, but the wreckage of the plane was burned that night.

The invention of aircraft that allows people to travel in the Earth's atmosphere is one of the greatest innovations of mankind. Aviation challenges the limits, and new ideas are emerging all the time in this area, but the aircraft listed below do not even remotely fit the concept of “the norm”.

1. Convair V2 Sea Dart

In addition to the standard planes, very interesting examples of aircraft are sometimes available to pilots. The fighter, which will be discussed now, could land directly on the surface of the ocean. And he greatly expanded official duties pilots, temporarily turning them from ordinary pilots into ski gear operators. The Convair V2 Sea Dart was an experimental American fighter aircraft built in 1951 as a prototype supersonic floatplane complete with a watertight hull and a pair of hydrofoils.

It was decided to abandon the production of this fighter after a disaster that ended in the death of the pilot. But nevertheless, he became the first (and at the moment - the only) seaplane to break the sound barrier.

2 Goodyear Inflatoplane

When the manufacturing company car tires, enters the aircraft market, very unusual results should be expected. In 1959, Goodyear Tire tried to satisfy the market demand for a small, comfortable aircraft, and its response to these requests was very bizarre. The open cockpit of the Goodyear Inflatoplane was made entirely of rubber.

In fact, everything was made of rubber, except for the engine and wires. The aircraft could be stowed in a 1 meter long box and could be fully inflated with a conventional bicycle pump in just 15 minutes. From an aerodynamic point of view, the car was excellent, as it rose into the air with incredible ease. However, Goodyear Tire ran into serious problems. They could not convince the military to buy their brainchild after the military learned that the plane could be shot down with just one bullet, or even a shot from a slingshot.

3. NASA A1 Pivot-Wing

The NASA A1 Pivot-Wing has been able to take the concept of "weird aircraft" to a whole new level. It was developed in the early 80s in order to test the concept of a rotary wing. The long, thin wing of this jet aircraft could turn at such an incredible angle that it turned out to be almost parallel to the cockpit. The idea behind this unorthodox and exceptionally innovative approach was to compensate for vortex disturbances in the airflow in this way.

The strange plane even made several flights, and it flew surprisingly well, but the results were still not considered convincing enough to justify the cost of its production. However, modern drones based on the design of this aircraft are currently under development.

4Vought V-173

The Vought V-173 was developed in 1942 as a prototype VTOL aircraft capable of intercepting enemy fighters from the deck of an aircraft carrier. For a strange design, test pilots nicknamed this aircraft "flying pancake."

Its fuselage had a rounded shape. A pair of engines drove huge propellers, which did not touch the ground during takeoff only thanks to the elongated landing gear. Low demand and one accident decided the fate of this project, but it began the development in this direction, which in the end led to the appearance of the famous Harrier Jump Jet.

5. Bell P-39 Aircobra

Still, sometimes it's best for experts to stick with what they know really well. During World War II, Bell Helicopters produced a powerful and incredibly agile fighter aircraft with excellent combat characteristics.

Most planes have engines located in the front, but Bell, being a helicopter company, has created a fighter aircraft with an engine located behind the cockpit. The long shaft coming from this engine turned the propeller in front, but this design led to an unusual location of the center of gravity of the machine. This "sky serpent" during the war years shot down more enemy aircraft than any other US Air Force fighter. However, some "cobras" died not because they were shot down by the enemy, but because they fell themselves, easily falling into a "tailspin" even due to the smallest mistakes of the pilots.

6. SR 71 Blackbird

The SR 71 Blackbird was created before the era of universal satellite technology. It was the first reconnaissance aircraft of its kind, with unprecedented speed and range. He was able to climb to incredible heights, and he looked like a scary, almost alien spaceship.

However, there were serious flaws in the design of the SR 71 Blackbird. As soon as the plane climbed to a height of 7 km, and accelerated to a speed of 3300 km / h, its outer skin heated up to 400 degrees and began to glow red. This hellish picture outside the cockpit did not please the pilots too much. And although the cockpit was insulated with asbestos, the pilots still had to sit in it for half an hour after landing, in order not to burn their legs on exit. Even the transparent canopy of the cockpit was heated up to 300 degrees.

7. Convair Pogo

The Grumman X23, aka the "Pogo", was a radical departure from all the norms of aircraft construction. It wasn't even eccentric, it was full blown absurdity. By appearance Pogo slightly resembled an ordinary aircraft, if you do not pay attention to the jet engine mounted in the nose cone of the device. This engine allowed the Pogo to take off vertically. But unlike most vertical take-off and landing aircraft, Pogo's nose before take-off lifted up at a right angle, so that the pilot in the cockpit almost lay like an astronaut in a rocket. Only after such preliminary preparation could Pogo take off.

Several successful test flights were made, but like many other aerial failures, this project was never able to fly far from the ground.

8. McDonnell Douglas X-15

The X-15 is a very old project, but it was such a significant and anomalous leap forward that it remains unsurpassed in aviation history to this day. First tested in 1959, the Kh-15 experimental rocket plane was 2m long, with two tiny meter-long wing stubs on each side.

A series of tests showed that the rocket plane was capable of reaching an altitude of 107 km, so the two missions completed were qualified as space flights. When this small plane passed through the dense layers of the atmosphere, its speed was six times the speed of sound. The skin of the X-15 was coated with a special nickel-based alloy that was similar to that found in meteorites. This alloy prevented the fastest aircraft on the planet from burning up in the atmosphere.

9. Blohm und Voss BV 141

In the ordinary world, symmetry is a rule that can be traced in almost everything, from eyes to wings and fins. Engineers, when creating their inventions, are also inspired by this principle, this rule is also true for aircraft engines. However, during the Second World War, German engineers from Dornier deviated noticeably from this norm, and created a reconnaissance aircraft, in which the tail stabilizer was located only on one side, and the cockpit was located asymmetrically, on the opposite side.

At first glance, this design looks unbalanced. However, due to the fact that the cockpit is located on the right side, and the main propeller is located to the left, during the flight there is a moment of force that helps the aircraft fly smoothly. As a result, this bizarre device not only successfully lifted off the ground, but also subsequently inspired many creators of modern sports aircraft to create devices with a similar design.

10. Caproni Ca.60 Noviplano

Consider a house on the water crossed with an airplane. It was this idea that underlay the Caproni Ca.60 Noviplano. This machine set the bar for strangeness in aircraft so high that even Richthofen's Red Fokker looks pale in comparison. The length of this aircraft was 23 m. Weight - a whopping 26 tons. This floating and flying machine was built to be the first transatlantic liner in the history of aviation.

Based on the theory that with enough wings, anything could be lifted into the air, the engineers created a stack of three wings in the front, and three in the middle. Instead of a tail, another, third set of wings was used. This monstrous machine could probably be classified as a triple triplane, and nothing like it was built either before or after it.

Getting off the ground was not a problem, but immediately after takeoff, at a height of 18 meters, the device began to fall apart, and then fell into the water. Both pilots were killed. After that, the aircraft was repaired, but later it burned down. This happened at night, and the details of this incident have not yet been fully clarified.

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The invention of aircraft that allows people to travel in the Earth's atmosphere is one of the greatest innovations of mankind. Aviation is pushing the limits and there are new ideas coming up all the time, but the aircraft listed below are not even remotely the norm.

(Total 22 photos + 5 videos)

Convair V2 Sea Dart

1. In addition to the standard aircraft, very interesting specimens of aircraft are sometimes available to pilots. The fighter, which will be discussed now, could land directly on the surface of the ocean. And he greatly expanded the job responsibilities of pilots, temporarily turning them from ordinary pilots into ski gear operators.

2. The Convair V2 Sea Dart was an experimental American fighter aircraft built in 1951 as a prototype supersonic seaplane complete with a watertight hull and a pair of hydrofoils.

3. It was decided to abandon the production of this fighter after a disaster that ended in the death of the pilot. But nevertheless, he became the first (and at the moment - the only) seaplane to break the sound barrier.

Goodyear Inflatoplane

4. When a tire company enters the aircraft market, very unusual results are to be expected. In 1959, Goodyear Tire tried to satisfy the market demand for a small, comfortable aircraft, and its response to these requests was very bizarre. The open cockpit of the Goodyear Inflatoplane was made entirely of rubber.

5. In fact, everything was made of rubber, except for the engine and wires. The aircraft could be stowed in a 1 meter long box and could be fully inflated with a conventional bicycle pump in just 15 minutes. From an aerodynamic point of view, the car was excellent, as it rose into the air with incredible ease. However, Goodyear Tire ran into serious problems. They could not convince the military to buy their brainchild after the military learned that the plane could be shot down with just one bullet or even a shot from a slingshot.

NASA A1 Pivot-Wing

6. NASA A1 Pivot-Wing was able to take the concept of "weird aircraft" to a whole new level. It was developed in the early 80s in order to test the concept of a rotary wing. The long thin wing of this jet aircraft could turn at such an incredible angle that it turned out to be almost parallel to the cockpit. The idea behind this unorthodox and exceptionally innovative approach was to compensate for vortex disturbances in the airflow in this way.

7. The strange plane even made several flights, and it flew surprisingly well, but the results were still not considered convincing enough to justify the cost of its production. However, modern drones based on the design of this aircraft are currently under development.

Vought V-173

8. The Vought V-173 was developed in 1942 as a prototype VTOL aircraft capable of intercepting enemy fighters from the deck of an aircraft carrier. For a strange design, test pilots nicknamed this aircraft "flying pancake."

9. Its fuselage had a rounded shape. A pair of engines drove huge propellers, which did not touch the ground during takeoff only thanks to the extended landing gear. Low demand and one accident decided the fate of this project, but it began the development in this direction, which in the end led to the appearance of the famous Harrier Jump Jet.

Bell P-39 Aircobra

10. Still, sometimes it's best for experts to stick with what they know really well. During World War II, Bell Helicopters produced a powerful and incredibly maneuverable fighter aircraft with excellent combat characteristics.

11. Most planes have engines in the front, but Bell, being a helicopter company, built a fighter jet with an engine that was centered behind the cockpit. The long shaft coming from this engine turned the propeller in front, but this design led to an unusual location of the center of gravity of the machine. This "sky serpent" during the war years shot down more enemy aircraft than any other US Air Force fighter. However, some "cobras" died not because they were shot down by the enemy, but because they fell themselves, easily falling into a "tailspin" even due to the smallest mistakes of the pilots.

SR71 Blackbird

12. SR 71 Blackbird was created before the era of universal satellite technology. It was the first reconnaissance aircraft of its kind, with unprecedented speed and range. He was able to rise to incredible heights, and he looked like a scary, almost alien spaceship.

13. However, there were serious flaws in the design of the SR 71 Blackbird. As soon as the plane climbed to a height of 7 km and accelerated to a speed of 3300 km / h, its outer skin heated up to 400 degrees and began to glow red. This hellish picture outside the cockpit did not please the pilots too much. And although the cockpit was insulated with asbestos, the pilots still had to sit in it for half an hour after landing in order not to burn their legs on exit. Even the transparent canopy of the cockpit was heated up to 300 degrees.

Convair Pogo

14. The Grumman X23, aka the Pogo, was a radical departure from all aircraft building norms. It wasn't even eccentric, it was full blown absurdity. In appearance, Pogo slightly resembled an ordinary aircraft, if you do not pay attention to the jet engine mounted in the nose cone of the apparatus. This engine allowed the Pogo to take off vertically. But unlike most vertical take-off and landing aircraft, Pogo's nose was pulled up at a right angle before takeoff, so that the pilot in the cockpit almost lay like an astronaut in a rocket. Only after such preliminary preparation could Pogo take off.

15. Several successful test flights were made, but like many other aerial failures, this project was never able to fly far from the ground.

McDonnell Douglas X-15

16. The X-15 is a very old project, but it was such a significant and anomalous leap forward that it remains unsurpassed in aviation history to this day. First tested in 1959, the Kh-15 experimental rocket plane was 2m long, with two tiny meter-long wing stubs on each side.

17. A series of tests showed that the rocket plane was capable of reaching an altitude of 107 km, so the two missions completed were qualified as space flights. When this small plane passed through the dense layers of the atmosphere, its speed was six times the speed of sound. The skin of the X-15 was coated with a special nickel-based alloy that was similar to that found in meteorites. This alloy prevented the fastest aircraft on the planet from burning up in the atmosphere.

Blohm und Voss BV 141

18. In the ordinary world, symmetry is a rule that can be traced in almost everything, from the eyes to the wings and fins. Engineers, when creating their inventions, are also inspired by this principle, this rule is also true for aircraft engines. However, during the Second World War, German engineers from Dornier deviated noticeably from this norm and created a reconnaissance aircraft, in which the tail stabilizer was located only on one side, and the cockpit was located asymmetrically, on the opposite side.

19. At first glance, this design looks unbalanced. However, due to the fact that the cockpit is located on the right side, and the main propeller is on the left side, during the flight there is a moment of force, which helps the aircraft to fly smoothly. As a result, this bizarre device not only successfully lifted off the ground, but also subsequently inspired many creators of modern sports aircraft to create devices with a similar design.

20. Consider a house on the water crossed with an airplane. It was this idea that underlay the Caproni Ca.60 Noviplano. This machine has set the bar of strangeness for aircraft so high that even Richthofen's Red Fokker looks pale in comparison. The length of this aircraft was 23 m. Weight - a whopping 26 tons. This floating and flying machine was built to be the first transatlantic liner in the history of aviation.

21. Based on the theory that with enough wings you can get anything in the air, the engineers created a stack of three wings in the front and three in the middle. Instead of a tail, another, third set of wings was used. This monstrous machine could probably be classified as a triple triplane, and nothing like it was built either before or after it.

22. Getting off the ground was not a problem, but immediately after takeoff, at a height of 18 meters, the device began to fall apart, and then fell into the water. Both pilots were killed. After that, the aircraft was repaired, but later it burned down. This happened at night, and the details of this incident have not yet been fully clarified.

Ever since the invention of aircraft, there have been constant attempts to improve them, to create a super-aircraft, or an aircraft with unusual characteristics. Here are collected the most phenomenal samples.

SR 71 Blackbird
Before the era of universal satellite technology, the SR 71 "Blackbird" was created - a first-class reconnaissance aircraft with unparalleled speed, durability and ability to reach the stratosphere

Terrible, almost alien, this aircraft possessed simply fantastic abilities. However, in a strange design, explosive jet fuel leaked from special leaky fuel tanks until heat (t= 482°C) caused by friction sealed them.

When the aircraft reached an altitude of almost 10 thousand meters and a speed of almost 5000 km / h, the surface of the cockpit began to glow with a bright red light. The terrifying view from the outside was no better inside, where the pilot was in the cockpit with asbestos insulation.

Even the cockpit canopy heated up to 300°C, and when landing, the pilot had to wait more than half an hour so that his legs would not melt when he exited the cockpit.

McDonnell Douglas X-15

The X-15 represents a significant and unusual breakthrough in aircraft engineering that remains unsurpassed to this day.

The first tests took place in 1959. The X-15 rocket plane was 15.5 meters long, with tiny three-meter wings on either side. During a series of tests, the aircraft was lifted to a height of 30.5 kilometers, and two of them were counted as space flights.

During its passage through the atmosphere, its speed was six times the speed of sound. The body of the aircraft was coated with a nickel alloy similar in composition to that found in meteorites. This allowed the aircraft not to burn up when entering the Earth's atmosphere.

The enormous weight and high power of the X-15 created the basis for describing the characteristics of extreme aircraft.

Convair Pogo
The Grumman X23 or "Pogo" represents a radical departure from the norms of aircraft engineering, from simple eccentricity to complete absurdity. The hull was built much like a normal aircraft, with the exception of the rotor attached to the nose cone, which lifted the aircraft vertically into the air.

Unlike most VTOL aircraft, the Pogo took off nose up like a rocket with wheels attached to its tail keel. The cockpit canopy was designed in a 90-degree outward position, which required the pilot to lie perpendicular to the ground as the car took to the air.

Then, after leveling off the flight path, the Pogo continued to fly like normal aircraft. This ship went through a series of successful tests, but like all "strange" projects, it did not receive further development.

Convair V2 Sea Dart

The job of a pilot is not always limited to simple aircraft. And the control of a fighter jet that can land on water right in the middle of the ocean turns the pilot into the driver of a giant jet ski.

The Convair Sea Dart is an experimental American fighter aircraft designed in 1951 as a prototype for a supersonic seaplane.

It was equipped with a waterproof hull and two hydrofoils. The Convair Sea Dart was discontinued after a fatal accident.

However, before that, under the control of Sam Shannon, this aircraft became the first (and to this day the only) hydroplane that broke the sound barrier.

NASA A1 Pivot-Wing aircraft

With the advent of the NASA A1 Pivot-Wing aircraft, the standard for aircraft weirdness has been raised to a new level.

The aircraft was developed in the early 1980s to test the rotating wing theory. It had a long wing that rotated at an angle until the right wing tip was parallel to the cockpit.

Behind this unusual and innovative design was an attempt to offset the effects of turbulence and increase streamlining.

The aircraft performed remarkably well on a number of tests, but the results were not impressive enough to warrant approval. mass production. However, modern drones are designed based on this model.

Vought V-173

The Vought V-173 was developed in 1942 as a prototype VTOL vessel with the ability to intercept enemy fighters directly from an aircraft carrier.

For its strange design, the first test pilots nicknamed it the “flying pancake”. It had an almost regular round fuselage, which also served as wings for this aircraft.

Two engines supported huge propellers that did not touch the ground only thanks to the exaggerated landing gear legs, and the power supply system was located at the ends of the wings (unlike all existing aircraft).

Limited demand and accidents sealed the fate of this project, but it was the progenitor of the famous Harrier Jet.

Bell P-39 Aircobra

Sometimes experts need to do what they are good at.

During World War II, Bell Helicopters created a powerful, highly maneuverable fighter aircraft with superior ground and air strike capabilities.

In most aircraft, the engines are located at the front of the cockpit. However, as a helicopter company, Bell created a ship hull with the engine located behind this cockpit.

This design provided the aircraft with extraordinary power, and the long shaft turned the propeller at the front. But building the hull around a power source, like a helicopter, resulted in an unusual center of gravity. Therefore, some of them crashed even without a single shot from the enemy.

And yet, with the help of this air "cobra" the Soviet troops shot down more enemy aircraft than with the use of any other American aircraft received under lend - lease.

Blohm und Voss BV 141

In nature, symmetry is important in everything from the eyes to the wings. In the principles of reverse engineering, inspired by the rules of nature, this axiom is equally true for engines, keels and tails of aircraft.

But during World War II, the German aircraft builders Dornier created a reconnaissance aircraft and a light bomber with a single wing, an engined tail boom on one side, and a cockpit just behind them.

Such a design, which has significant deviations from the accepted norm, may not seem reliable, but, nevertheless, the location of the cockpit on the right side of the propeller counteracts the torque and helps the aircraft fly straight.

This strange aircraft not only took off from the ground, but also served as inspiration for the creation of a project for a modern sports aircraft with a similar design.

Imagine a houseboat combined with an airplane. It was this idea that underlay the Caproni Ca.60 Noviplano project. Machina, created in 1920, changed all existing standards for evaluating aircraft with multiple wings. And so much so that the Red Fokker Richtofen (Richtofen's Red Fokker) would look just ordinary.

This huge floating aircraft (21.5 meters long and 55 tons in weight) was to be the first transatlantic aircraft in the history of aviation. Borrowing from theory the concept that enough wings can make anything fly, the ship-shaped hull was fitted with three wings in the front, three in the middle, and a third set of wings in the back instead of a tail.

This strange unearthly apparatus can be described as a triple triplane. Nothing like it has ever been built.

Takeoff was not a problem for this aircraft, but the very first flight ended in disaster when the plane gained a height of 18 meters. Caprioni said that he would fix it, but the wreckage of the plane was burned that night.

Goodyear Inflatoplane

When the world's largest tire maker ventures into the aircraft industry, expect something out of the ordinary.

In 1959, Goodyear Tire responded to market demands in an extraordinary manner with the supply of compact aircraft. The open-cockpit inflatable aircraft was made entirely of rubber, with the exception of the motor and electrical control cables.

The plane fit comfortably in a one meter long box and was easily inflated using a conventional bicycle pump. This machine made a real aerodynamic sensation as soon as it took off into the air.

Unfortunately, the company failed to convince the military to take this aircraft into service, when it turned out that it could be easily shot down with a bullet or even a good slingshot.