Unusual aircraft from around the world. The first aircraft

The invention of cleverly constructed aircraft for travel in the Earth's atmosphere ranks among mankind's greatest innovations. The field of aviation is defined by challenging limits and inventing bold new ideas, but these aircraft simply completely ignore notions of normality.

10. Convair V2 Sea Dart

There are many interesting combination machines available for pilots in addition to standard aircraft. However, a fighter jet designed to land directly on the ocean adds a whole new definition to the job, turning pilots into jet ski drivers. The Convair Sea Dart was an experimental American fighter aircraft built in 1951 as a prototype supersonic seaplane, with a watertight hull and two hydrofoils. The Sea Dart concept was scrapped after a fatal accident, but not before it became the first - and so far only - seaplane to break the sound barrier, with Ed Shannon at the controls.

9. Inflatoplane from Goodyear


When a tire company tries to enter the airplane market, you can expect strange results. In 1959, Goodyear Tire responded to the market's need for a comfortable airplane in a stunning way. The open-cockpit Inflatoplane was built entirely of rubber except for the engines and control cables. The plane could be assembled into a 1 meter long box and could be fully inflated using a bicycle pump in just 15 minutes. The car was an aerodynamic success as it took to the skies with ease. However, Goodyear had some trouble convincing the military to buy the plane when they pointed out that the plane could be brought down with a single bullet, or even a slingshot.

8. Ames AD-1 from NASA (NASA A1 Pivot-Wing)


NASA's Ames AD-1 took the standard for strange aircraft to a whole new level. The long, thin wings of the jet, developed in the early 1980s to test the swing-wing concept, were angled to the point where the tip of the right wing could be positioned parallel to the cabin. The idea behind this original and completely new design was to neutralize the effects of turbulence and increase streamlining. The strange aircraft performed a number of flights with surprisingly good results, but they were not convincing enough to justify mass production. However, there are currently modern drones under development that are modeled after this aircraft design.

7. Vought V-173


The Vought V-173 was developed in 1942 as a prototype VTOL aircraft capable of intercepting enemy fighters from an aircraft carrier. Nicknamed the "flying pancake" by its test pilots, the strange design of the aircraft consisted of an almost perfectly round fuselage that also functioned as the aircraft's wings. The two engines supported huge propellers that were kept off the ground only by exaggerated landing gear, while the power system was located at the tips of the wings, unlike any other aircraft ever made. Limited demand and an accident helped seal the project's fate, but it began a lineage that would lead to the famous Harrier VTOL jet.

6. Bell P-39 Aircobra


Sometimes it's better for experts to stick to what they're good at. During World War II, Bell Helicopters created a powerful, maneuverable fighter with superior ground strike capability and air combat skills. Most airplanes had engines in the front, but Bell, being a helicopter company, created an airplane body with the engine located behind the cockpit. A long shaft turned the propeller at the front, but while the design provided amazing power, building a body around a helicopter-like power source resulted in an unusual center of gravity. This "Sky Cobra" shot down more enemy aircraft than any other American-designed fighter aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force, but some Air Cobras crashed without even firing a shot from the enemy.

5. “Blackbird” (SR 71 Blackbird)


Even before the dawn of the era of universal satellite technology, the design specifications for a premier reconnaissance aircraft with unprecedented speed, endurance and the ability to reach the edge of space gave birth to the SR 71 Blackbird. A terrifying, almost alien-like craft, the SR 71 had diabolical performance. However, in a strange irony, explosive jet fuel oozed from the CP 71's special permeable tanks until the heat (482 degrees Celsius) caused by friction sealed them. When the plane took off to an altitude of more than 9.65 kilometers, its speed exceeded 3,000 kilometers per hour, causing the surface of the plane to glow bright red. The hellish sight outside the plane was no consolation to the pilot, who sat in an asbestos-insulated cockpit and had to wait up to half an hour after landing to avoid having his legs melted upon exiting. Even the cockpit canopy reached temperatures of 300 degrees Celsius.

4. Convair Pogo


The Grumman X203, or Pogo, represents a radical departure from the norm of aircraft design, flying past eccentricity into full-blown absurdity. The Pogo's body was shaped much like that of a conventional airplane, except for a rotor attached to the nose cone that lifted it vertically into the air. Unlike most VTOL aircraft, the Pogo took off nose-up like a rocket with wheels attached to its tail fin. The canopy was designed in a 90-degree outward position, forcing the pilot to lie perpendicular to the ground as the machine rose into the air. Pogo2 would then fly forward through the air once it had stabilized. There were several successful test flights, but like many other aerial outliers, the project never got off the ground.

3. McDonnell Douglas X-15


The X-15 is an older design. However, it was such a significant and unusual leap forward that it remains unrivaled in aircraft performance. The first tests of the X-15 rocket plane, which was 15.5 meters long and equipped with two tiny 2.7-meter wings on each side, took place in 1959. A series of tests showed that the aircraft reached an altitude of 30,480 meters and two of its flights qualified as space flights. As the plane passed through the atmosphere, the small rocket-like aircraft reached speeds six times the speed of sound. The X-15 was coated with a special nickel alloy similar to that found in natural meteorites. The alloy protected the fastest car in the history of planet Earth from combustion in the atmosphere. The X-15 defined the extreme performance niche with its heavy weight, high power and low pressure.

2. Blohm und Voss BV 141


In the natural world, symmetry is the rule in everything from eyes to wings. In the principles of reverse engineering, which is inspired by nature, this rule is equally true for engines, fins and tails. However, during World War II, in a notable departure from the norm, German aviation engineers at Dornier conceived the idea of ​​creating a reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber with one wing, a tail boom with an engine on one side, and right next to it, a cockpit for the pilot. Although this design may seem unbalanced, placing the cockpit on the right side of the propeller counteracts the torque and helps the plane fly straight. Thus, this bizarre aircraft not only took off from the ground, but also became the inspiration for a modern sports aircraft with a similar design.

1. Caproni Ca.60 Noviplano


Imagine a houseboat combined with an airplane. This is the idea behind the Caproni Ca.60 Noviplano. This aircraft, built in 1920, set the standard for strange multi-wing aircraft, so high that even Richtofen's Red Fokker certainly looked ordinary in comparison. Caproni's enormous floating aircraft, which measured 21 meters in length and weighed a whopping 55 tons, was built to be the first transatlantic airliner in aviation history. Borrowing from the theory that enough wings would make anything fly, the ship-shaped body carried a cluster of three wings in front, three in the middle, and instead of a tail, a third set of wings. The unearthly machine could only be described as a triple triplane, and nothing else like it was built. Takeoff was not a problem, but the plane made an emergency landing on its maiden flight after reaching an altitude of 18 meters. Caproni announced that he would fix it, but the plane's wreckage was later burned that night.

Even in ancient times, people dreamed of taking to the air and learning to fly like birds. History has brought to us a lot of evidence of various people’s attempts to make wings and fly. So, in 1020, the English monk Aylmer from Malmesbury, inspired by the Greek myth of Icarus, made artificial wings and jumped from the tower of the local abbey. Having flown a short distance, the monk broke his legs upon landing and wanted to, by improving the design and adding a tail, repeat the flight, but the abbot forbade him to do so. Most of the “inventors” ended up much worse - they crashed to death. And yet, what is the history of aircraft and when did the first successful devices appear that allowed people to take to the air?

The history of flights begins in ancient China. Back in the 3rd-4th centuries BC. e. The Chinese invented the kite. Initially, this device was used to entertain people on various holidays.

Chinese dragon shaped kite

However, kites soon found other uses. For example, fishermen began to use kites to catch fish by tying bait to them; kites were used to exchange signals over long distances; they were even used to deliver messages and scatter leaflets. Of course, the Chinese were also struck by the idea that a large kite could lift a person into the air. Flying a kite was quite risky, but history has preserved evidence of successful flights. The first written mention of such a flight that has come down to us dates back to 559. This year, the cruel Emperor Qi Wenxuandi ordered the launch of his political opponents, condemned to execution, on large kites. One of them managed to fly several kilometers and land safely outside the city.

It is surprising that thousands of years passed before flying hang gliders, i.e., essentially the same simple aircraft without an engine as the Chinese kite, became popular and widespread. One of the enthusiasts of such flights was Otto Lilienthal, who made it at the end of the 19th century. more than 2000 successful flights on gliders of our own design. He used the same materials as the Chinese - wooden rods and silk.

photo - Lilienthal's flights

Unfortunately, one of the flights ended in an accident - a gust of wind overturned the glider and Lilienthal fell, breaking his spine. “Victims are inevitable,” he said about this. But the modern history of hang gliding began only in the 70s of the 20th century. The date of birth of the modern hang glider is considered to be 1971.

Before the advent of airplanes and helicopters, the easiest way to fly was to use lighter-than-air aircraft - balloons and airships. Interestingly, history here again takes us to China. Probably back in the 3rd century. BC e. Aerial lanterns were invented in China. This lantern is a simple rice paper design with a small burner inside.

chinese air lanterns

The Chinese used sky lanterns in ceremonies and as a means of signaling. Thousands of years passed before people started flying in balloons.

The Montgolfier brothers from France are considered the inventors of the hot air balloon. The brothers were guided by not entirely correct ideas - they came up with the idea of ​​​​making an analogue of a cloud and placing it in a bag so that it could lift this bag into the air. For this purpose, they filled their balloons with smoke from burning a mixture of straw and wet wool. However, their approach led to success. The brothers first experimented with small balloons at home, and then staged a large balloon demonstration for the residents of their city of Annone. This happened on June 4, 1783. Soon they learned about the balloon in Paris, and in the fall of the same year the Montgolfier brothers launched their balloons in Versailles. For the first time, they decided to launch passengers in a hot air balloon - they were a sheep, a duck and a rooster. Finally, making sure that a flight in a hot air balloon would not harm a person, on October 19, 1783, people made the first flight in a hot air balloon.

first hot air balloon flight

Balloons had a significant drawback - their flight depended on the direction of the wind, so during the 19th century. Attempts to create a controlled aircraft with an engine did not stop. We tried both options with installing the engine on a balloon, and with installing the engine on a glider. But despite the fact that the idea of ​​controlled flight was proposed shortly after the flight of the first hot air balloon, more than a hundred years passed before controlled flight became a reality. It was only in 1884 that the French Charles Renard and Arthur Krebs were able to build an airship that could move freely in any direction. Their airship had an elongated shape and was equipped with an electric motor powered by batteries.

airship of Renard and Krebs

Attempts to put an engine on a glider and thus invent an airplane did not lead to much success for a long time. Among such attempts was, for example, Mozhaisky’s plane. Mozhaisky, a rear admiral of the Russian fleet, began to invent an airplane back in the 50s of the 19th century. Starting with gliders that were lifted into the air by harnessed horses, Mozhaisky moved on to designing an aircraft with an engine. Unfortunately, the steam engines with which he tried to equip the plane were too heavy and could not keep it in the air, although there is evidence that Mozhaisky’s plane was able to take off for a short time.

Mozhaisky plane (model)

Mozhaisky spent all his money on inventive activities, sold his estate and eventually died of illness in poverty. Russian officials of that time were not interested in Mozhaisky’s ideas and did not finance his work; as a result, the American Wright brothers became the generally recognized inventors of the aircraft. They made their first confirmed flight in 1903, 13 years after Mozhaisky's death.

The first documented flight of an aircraft designed by the Wright brothers took place on December 17, 1903. In this case, the plane was launched using a rail catapult, and the distance it flew was only 30 meters.

first flight of the Wright brothers' airplane

The Wright brothers invented not only the airplane itself, but also a lightweight gasoline engine for it, which became a real breakthrough in aircraft construction. Nevertheless, time passed from the first flight to the active development of aviation. The following year, the Wright brothers, in the presence of journalists, were unable to repeat their success; the plane went into the hangar, and the inventors began constructing a new, more advanced model. The US Military Department was in no hurry to conclude a contract with the Wright brothers, doubting the ability of bicycle mechanics (this was the specialty of the inventors) to construct something worthwhile. In Europe, reports about the flights of the Wright brothers were generally considered a lie. It was only in 1908, after impressive demonstration flights carried out by the inventors both in the USA and in Europe, that opinion changed, and the Wright brothers became not only famous, but also rich.

In 1909, the Russian government finally realized the importance of inventions in the field of aviation. It refused to buy the Wright brothers' plane and decided to create its own plane on its own. The first Russian airplane was built and flown in 1910 by Professor Alexander Kudashev.

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

NASA's M2-F1 design was nicknamed the "Flying Bathtub." 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 one.

At NASA Air Force Base, two remote-controlled aircraft were tested from mid-1979 to January 1983. Compared to conventional fighters, they were significantly smaller in size, more maneuverable and could withstand greater overload.

Aircraft designers came up with the prototype of the McDonell Douglas X-36 aircraft only to verify the flight capabilities of tailless aircraft. Was developed in 1977. Remote control.

Ames AD-1 (Ames AD-1) is the world's first aircraft with an oblique wing. Experimental model from 1979. Its tests were carried out for about three years. After this, 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. It was developed in 1957. After a series of successful tests that lasted three whole years, it was transferred to the NASA research center.

The heaviest and most load-lifting helicopter ever built in the world was developed by Soviet scientists - employees of the design bureau named after. 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.

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

The Northrop XP-79B had two jet engines and a very strange appearance. According to the idea of ​​the American developers, the fighter was supposed to dive on enemy bombers and smash them, cutting off the tail section. But the first flight in 1945 ended in disaster. It happened fifteen minutes into the flight.

In 2007, the Boeing X-48 was voted the best invention in a Times poll. This is the result of joint cooperation between the American company Boeing and NASA. The first flight took place in the summer of 2007. Unmanned aerial vehicle rose to a height of 2300 meters and landed safely after 31 minutes.

Another non-standard NASA development is the NASA Hyper III aircraft.

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, it 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 a low lift-to-drag vehicle after returning from space. Developed by NASA.

Su-47 "Berkut" is a carrier-based fighter designed in 1997 at the Design Bureau named after. Sukhoi (Russia). Composite materials were used to create it. A distinctive feature is the forward-swept wings. At the moment it is an experimental model.

The Grumman X-29 is the flagship 1984 project of Grumman Aerospace Corporation. It can be safely called a prototype of the Russian Su-47 Berkut. A total of two such fighters were assembled (special order from the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency).

The LTV XC-142 is capable of taking off vertically. He has 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 date. It became part of the exhibition at the US Air Force Museum.

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

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.

A Douglas monoplane with a pointed nose is an experimental model. The first test flight took place in 1952.

This module, created in 1963, was part of the ambitious 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 of day. But the project was soon closed due to insufficient funding.

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

Another module for landing on the Moon. Also was part of Project Apollo. Developed in 1964. Capable of performing vertical landing and takeoff.

Convair Pogo

The Grumman X23, or “Pogo,” represents a radical departure from aircraft manufacturing norms, ranging from mere eccentricity to complete absurdity. The body was built much like a conventional airplane, except for the rotor attached to the nose cone, which lifted the airplane vertically into the air. Unlike most VTOL aircraft, Pogo took off nose-up like a rocket with wheels attached to its tail fin. The canopy was designed at a 90-degree outward position, forcing the pilot to lie perpendicular to the ground as the vehicle rose into the air. Then, after leveling off the flight path, “Pogo” continued to fly like regular airplanes. This ship underwent a series of successful tests, but like all “strange” projects, it did not receive further development.

Convair V2 Sea Dart

A pilot's job is not always limited to simple airplanes. And controlling a fighter jet that can land on water right in the middle of the ocean turns the pilot into a 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 retired after a fatal accident. However, before that, under the control of Sam Shannon, this plane became the first (and to this day only) seaplane to break the 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 manufacturing 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 climbed 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 plane's body was coated with a nickel alloy similar in composition to that found in meteorites. This allowed the plane 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.

Blohm and 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, fins and tails of aircraft. But during World War II, German aircraft makers Dornier created a reconnaissance aircraft and a light bomber with a single wing, a tail boom with an engine on one side, and a cockpit just behind them. This design, which has significant deviations from the accepted norm, may seem unreliable, 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 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. The machine, created in 1920, changed all existing standards for judging multi-wing aircraft. So much so that Richtofen’s Red Fokker would look just ordinary. This huge floating aircraft (21.5 m long and 55 tons of weight) was supposed to be the first transatlantic aircraft in the history of aviation. Borrowing from the theory that enough wings could make anything fly, the ship-shaped body was fitted with three wings at the front, three in the middle, and a third set of wings at the rear in place of a tail. This strange unearthly device can be described as a triple triplane. Nothing like this has ever been built. Takeoff was not a problem for this plane, but the first flight ended in disaster when the plane gained a height of 18 meters. Caprioni said he would repair it, but the wreckage of the plane was burned that night.

And in our review today we can collect 7 of the best and most unusual aircraft that were actually created on our planet at different times.

1. Spacecraft - NASA "M2-F1"

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

2. American fighter - Northrop XP-79B

Northrop XP-79B is an American fighter that was 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, which was designed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration space research 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 take-off 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, but nevertheless was able to successfully complete its mission.

6. Flying saucer - VZ-9-AV Avrocar

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

7. The first aircraft - Boeing Vertol VZ-2

The Boeing Vertol VZ-2 is the first aircraft to use vertical, short take-off and landing. This specimen made its first flight in mid-1957, and after it successfully passed all tests, it was transferred to the NASA research center.

The invention of flying machines, which allow humans to travel in the Earth's atmosphere, ranks among mankind's greatest innovations. Aviation challenges the limits and new ideas emerge 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 standard aircraft, pilots sometimes have access to very interesting aircraft. The fighter that will be discussed now could land directly on the surface of the ocean. And he expanded greatly job responsibilities pilots, temporarily transforming them from ordinary pilots into ski chassis 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 the disaster that ended in the death of the pilot. But nevertheless, it became the first (and at the moment the only) seaplane to break the sound barrier.

Goodyear Inflatoplane

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

5. In fact, everything there was made of rubber, except for the engine and wires. The plane could be stowed in a 1 meter long box and could be fully inflated using a regular 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 faced serious problems. They were unable to convince the military to buy their creation after the military learned that the plane could be shot down with just one bullet or even a slingshot.

NASA A1 Pivot-Wing

6. The NASA A1 Pivot-Wing was able to take the concept of “weird plane” to a whole new level. It was developed in the early 1980s to test the concept of a rotating wing. The long, thin wing of this jet could turn at such an incredible angle that it was almost parallel to the pilot's cabin. The idea behind this unorthodox and exceptionally innovative approach was to compensate for vortex disturbances in the air flow 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 this aircraft's design are currently under development.

Vought V-173

8. The Vought V-173 was developed in 1942 as a prototype vertical takeoff and landing aircraft capable of intercepting enemy fighters by taking off from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Due to its strange design, test pilots nicknamed this aircraft the “flying pancake.”

9. Its fuselage had a round 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 development in this direction, which eventually led to the appearance of the famous Harrier Jump Jet.

Bell P-39 Aircobra

10. Still, sometimes it is better for experts to stick only to what they are really familiar with. During World War II, Bell Helicopters produced a powerful and incredibly maneuverable fighter aircraft with excellent combat characteristics.

11. Most airplanes have engines located at the front, but Bell, being a helicopter company, created a fighter with an engine centered behind the cockpit. A long shaft coming from this engine rotated the propeller at the front, but this design led to an unusual location for the machine's center of gravity. This “sky snake” shot down many more enemy aircraft during the war than any other American 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 most insignificant mistakes of the pilots.

SR 71 Blackbird

12. 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. It was capable of rising to incredible heights, and it 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 an altitude 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 cabin was insulated with asbestos, the pilots still had to sit in it for half an hour after landing, in order not to singe their feet when leaving. Even the transparent cockpit canopy was heated to 300 degrees.

Convair Pogo

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

15. There were several successful test flights, but like many other aerial failures, this project never made it 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 experimental X-15 rocket plane was 2 meters long, with two tiny meter-long stubs of wings on each side.

17. A series of tests showed that the rocket plane was capable of reaching an altitude of 107 km, so that two completed missions 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 X-15's skin was coated with a special nickel-based alloy, which was similar to that found in meteorites. This alloy prevented the fastest aircraft on the planet from burning up in the atmosphere.

Blohm and Voss BV 141

18. In the ordinary world, symmetry is a rule that can be seen in almost everything, from eyes to wings and fins. Engineers are also inspired by this principle when creating their inventions, and this rule is also true for aircraft engines. However, during the Second World War, German engineers from the Dornier company noticeably deviated 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 cabin is located on the right side, and the main propeller is to the left, a moment of force arises during flight, which helps the plane fly smoothly. As a result, this bizarre device not only successfully took off from 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. This is the idea behind the Caproni Ca.60 Noviplano. This machine set the bar for airplane weirdness 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 aircraft was built to become the first transatlantic airliner in the history of aviation.

21. Based on the theory that with enough wings you could lift anything into the air, 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 ever built before or since.

22. Getting off the ground was not a problem, but immediately after takeoff, at an altitude of 18 meters, the device began to fall apart and then fell into the water. Both pilots were killed. After this, the plane was repaired, but later it burned down. This happened at night, and the details of this incident are still not fully understood.