The most unusual aircraft in the history of aviation. The most amazing planes The rarest planes in the world

We have all become accustomed to airplanes long ago. To their appearance. Regardless of whether it is a civilian aircraft or a military one. And we know that any airplane has two wings, a fuselage, a keel (tail) and one or more engines.

But believe me, it wasn’t always like this. And at the dawn of the development of aviation, and during the world wars, and even today, devices appear that amaze with their unusual appearance.

Leaving aside the development of aircraft manufacturing during the First World War, let us turn to the 30s of the last century.

Two countries, Germany and the USSR, were intensively preparing for war. No money or resources were spared for military needs. And it is not surprising that it was in these countries that the most unusual projects in aviation appeared. Talented designers managed to bring the most unusual projects into reality.

Designers not only of the USSR and Germany, but also of other aviation powers, tested the most unusual aircraft designs. These were mainly so-called “tailless”, flying wings lacking a vertical keel. And if such projects did not receive further development in the USSR, then in Germany “tailless” were developed very actively. They received new, jet engines and were very promising. But history, as always, has put everything in its place. The machine of German industry, weakening under the attacks of the Allies, could no longer provide the front even with well-functioning production machines, not to mention experimental “raw” aircraft.

In general, in the USSR, as in Germany, during the increased militarization of the regimes, whole galaxies of talented designers, engineers, and planners appeared. The two countries attracted promising “techies” like a magnet with their limitless possibilities. It happened that even the craziest and most fantastic project was implemented in a real car in a very short time.

In the USSR in the 20-30s, designers proposed and implemented the most unusual projects. Moreover, these could be both venerable, famous people, and young, just from college, but promising designers.

Unfortunately, local military conflicts, and later the outbreak of World War II, did not provide an opportunity for the development of experimental aviation. The industry was transferred to mass production of serial aircraft. The country had no time for delights and experiments.

In Germany the situation was somewhat different. The leader’s crazy ideas about world leadership, and later the realization of the inevitable collapse of the 3rd Reich, made it possible to promote the most daring and extraordinary military projects.

We must pay tribute to the German designers; not all of these projects were stillborn. Many innovations first used on Luftwaffe aircraft later became the norm in aviation.

Many projects first developed in Germany were later used in the aircraft industry of the USSR and the USA, which received all the documentation and prototypes of defeated Germany. On their basis, further research and development in the field of aircraft construction was carried out.

In 35-37, in the USSR, OKB-16 developed a unique and very unusual machine - DB-LK. Engineer Viktor Belyaev, professor, leader of the strength group at TsAGI, with a group of talented engineers created an aircraft of an unusual design. About this car, the Soviet designer and the history of aircraft manufacturing in the USSR V.B. Shavrov wrote that it is completely original, and cannot be considered either a flying wing or a tailless one.

In Germany, perhaps the most unusual project is the Blohm und Voss reconnaissance project.

Continuing the theme of unusual aircraft in the world, let us dwell on one more main feature of an ordinary aircraft - the fuselage. We are all accustomed to the fact that an airplane has one fuselage, also known as the body, which is the main part in which the cockpit is located and to which the wings and tail are attached. Those who are well acquainted with aviation know that there are aircraft of the “frame” type, that is, those with two tail booms.

But aircraft with two fuselages are known to few.

And again, perhaps the very first, German designers were here again.

In 1939, when plans for the invasion of Great Britain were being developed, the design of heavy gliders Ju.322 and Me.321 began in Germany. They were planned to land troops and equipment on the British Isles.

The gliders were monstrously huge. Suffice it to note that the Ju.322 Mammoth airframe weighed 26 tons when empty! And it had a payload of 12 tons.

Willy Messerschmitt's more successful Me.321 Gigant glider was even heavier and had a larger payload. It was a cheap, almost entirely wooden glider. And by the way, it was the first to use an opening nose for access to the cargo compartment. Later, this option for loading heavy cargo aircraft was used in Russian and American designs.

But such gliders still need to be lifted into the air. The Luftwaffe did not have suitable aircraft. And then, the famous pilot and successful industrialist, Colonel General Ernst Udet, proposed making one bomber out of two, interlocking their wings. Which gave a twofold increase in power, and most importantly the ability to lift heavy gliders into the air.

The He 111 heavy bombers were chosen for the project. Two aircraft received a central section with another engine. This coupling was named He 111Z (Zwilling twins). Both cockpits were retained. Only in the left cockpit could the pilot control all engines and have full equipment and instruments. He was responsible for extending and retracting the left landing gear, and controlled the radiator flaps of the left engine group. In the right fuselage, the co-pilot was responsible for the right strut and the right engine group respectively. Although he did not have gas sectors. The crew of the “Siamese twins” included two more flight mechanics, two gunners and one radio operator. The second, right pilot also served as a navigator. This was the distribution of responsibilities on an unusual plane.

He 111Z (Zwilling-twins)

The unusual aircraft had good characteristics, was unpretentious and took part in combat operations on the Eastern Front.

Long-range fighters were needed to escort the USAF's B-29 heavy bombers. There were no suitable escort aircraft to participate in the raids on Japan. This is where the Americans resorted to the experience of the Luftwaffe. They took the most popular and, perhaps, most successful aircraft, the P-51 Mustang, and connected it with a common middle wing and a common stabilizer. This is how the unusual North American F-82 Twin Mustang appeared.

By July 6, 1945, when the first XF-82 prototype flew, the war had already ended, but the Twin was still used as a night fighter. It was also used in its primary capacity as a long-range escort fighter.

But they managed to connect the two planes not only with their wings; the designers figured out how to make a kind of coupling out of the two planes, when one plane sits “astride” the other. And not alone, and not only on horseback, but also under the wings.

This was the development of engineer V.S. Vakhmistrova. Aircraft carrier, aircraft carrier, air link, these were the names of the unusual project, which was officially called “Zveno-SPB” or composite dive bomber.

From one to 4-5 fighters were attached to the bomber, well tested in local conflicts, designed by Tupolev, TB-3. This increased the range of the fighters. The fighters could also carry heavy bombs, which they could not take off with themselves. On approaching the target, the fighters unhooked from the aircraft, dive-strike the target, and returned under their own power to their airfield. The planes were suspended under the wing and fuselage, and a couple more were on the wing.

During the testing of such an unusual aircraft carrier, the entire staff of the testing institute gathered, the spectacle was nicknamed “Vakhmistrov’s Circus”.

But the “circus” had the opportunity to demonstrate its effectiveness in the combat conditions of World War II. On July 26, 1941, a composite flight bombed an oil storage facility in Ploesti. There were no losses. And on August 10, “Zveno-SPB” wiped the noses of other skeptics, especially from the assault and bomber regiments.

The Charles 1 Bridge over the Danube was heavily guarded by enemy fighters and anti-aircraft guns. In addition to the regular supply of equipment and troops, the bridge also passed the pipeline from Ploiesti to Constanta.

The Red Army Air Force repeatedly attempted to bomb the bridge. But all were unsuccessful. And so on August 10, three flights of “circus performers” took to the air. One Link returned to base due to a breakdown, the remaining two successfully released fighter-bombers. They successfully attacked the bridge from a dive, from a height of 1800 meters, and returned home without losses. On August 13, they repeated the circus act, severely destroying the bridge.

In July 1943, an unknown plane took off from a German airfield. According to the contours, it was a Ju 88 A4 bomber, on which a Bf 109F-4 fighter sat “clinging” to it. This was the takeoff of the prototype of the Mistel (“Mistletoe”) aviation complex. Nicknamed “Dad and Son” by the troops.

The bomber was converted to serve as a super-heavy bomb. Why, instead of glazing the pilot's cabin, a long cone of a detonator was installed, behind which an explosive substance (1725 kg) was located. The plane took off on all engines, after gaining altitude, the fighter turned off its engine. When approaching the target, the Messer's engine was restarted and it was unhooked from the bomb, which flew towards the target with a gentle glide.

The photo shows the training version of "Mistelle". OnJu88, the cockpit was left to practice pilot interaction and uncoupling of the fighter. In this caseFW 190 A-8 (F-8). The training "Mistelle" was captured by the Allies.

Other aircraft were also tested for the “role” of bomb and carrier.

Luftwaffe plans to bomb Soviet power plants and other strategic sites were thwarted by rapidly advancing Soviet troops.

In Great Britain, back in 1938, a similar coupling of two aircraft was already tested. These were two flying boats. The Maia, a heavy boat with 4 engines, carried a lighter Mercury floatplane, also with four engines. The Junkers pilot Siegfried Holtzbauer took part in the tests, who subsequently proposed an option for coupling aircraft to the German Ministry of Aviation.

And this is the VM-T Atlant, developed by the Myasishchevsky Design Bureau in the mid-80s. This aircraft was the forerunner of the Mriya for transporting the Buran.

These are not all the unusual aircraft in the world. There are quite a few unusual projects in the world of aviation that will be of interest to all lovers of technology and aviation.

In the USSR, there was never a shortage of talented designers and inventors. The most unexpected technical solutions, the most daring and promising ideas were designed and implemented in designs.

Almost every design bureau designing aircraft had its own initiative group of young enthusiasts who proposed unexpected designs and non-standard design solutions.

On June 22, 1966, an apparatus unprecedented at that time was launched from the stocks of the Volga shipyard. It was not clear what it was. Either a ship with wings, or an airplane with a boat hull. The huge machine, about 90 meters long, had an unprecedented weight of 544 tons. The vehicle had the designation “KM”, a mock-up ship. But abroad, and even in our aviation circles, it was immediately dubbed the “Caspian Monster” for its frightening, unusual appearance.

The car was unique in its versatility. She could take off like an airplane, could sail like a sea vessel, or, thanks to her special wings, fly over the water at a speed of 500 km/hour.

The tests were long and difficult. Interdepartmental confusion brought chaos to the work of the design bureau. The fact is that for a long time they could not decide what type to classify it as. According to documentation, it passed as a military ship and belonged to the USSR Navy. Although it was tested by Air Force pilots.

The tests lasted 15 years, at a special base near the city of Kaspiysk. Crude, unfinished engines constantly disrupted test schedules. The KM was equipped with 10 VD-7 turbojet engines with a thrust of 13,000 kgf. They provided speeds of up to 500 km/h with a load of over 300 tons!

The first test flight was carried out by pilots V.F. Loginov, and chief designer R.E. Alekseev.

Unfortunately, in 1980, the only copy of the KM suffered an accident due to pilot errors. For a long time he remained afloat. But there were no attempts to save the car. Either there were no funds for this, or the project was abandoned. To the delight of the NATO military, the second copy was not built. And in the 90s, due to the chaos in the country, they completely forgot about the threat of the seas and aircraft carriers.

But, as they say: new is well forgotten old

And recently, there have been reports in the media about the resumption of work on the KM project. A scaled-down model has already been created, and a full-size 500-ton one is being prepared. The Ministry of Defense and the Navy plan to equip the Russian domestic fleet with combat ekranoplanes of the KM and Lun types by 2020.

VVA-14. Vertical take-off amphibian.

Another unique device, a unique person and designer Robert Bartini.

An Italian of noble origin, Robert Bartini, became interested in the Marxist movement in his youth. Having moved to Soviet Russia in the 30s, he enthusiastically began designing aircraft of unusual designs.

The vertically flying ekranolet VVA-14 became the culmination of the design ideas of this designer.

It was planned that the aircraft would become universal. Capable of taking off from both water and hard surfaces. Moreover, it can take off both in normal mode and vertically.

In 1976, the final version of the VVA was tested near Taganrog. Due to the lack of development of vertical take-off engines, the amphibian was converted into an ekranoplane capable of flying in airplane and ekranoplane modes.

After the death of the designer, they tried to develop the car, but the military lost interest in it, engines for vertical take-off never appeared, and the project was closed.

The photo from the museum in Monino, included in the title, shows the remains of a unique design, already without wings and engines.

In 1955, the US Army commissioned the Goodyear Aircraft Company to design an inflatable rescue aircraft. According to the military's plan, the plane was supposed to be dropped to the ground using a parachute in a rigid container with a volume of only 1.25 cubic meters, and upon landing, inflate within a few minutes.
Despite the seemingly absurdity of the idea itself today, Goodyear successfully completed the project in record time - 12 weeks.

The inflatable aircraft was produced in two versions, the single-seat GA-468 and the double-seat GA-466. The two modifications differed in wingspan, length, engine power (40 hp/60 hp), speed (116 km/h and 110 km/h) and flight range (630 km/443 km). The practical flight ceiling for both modifications was 3000 m. The take-off run was about 80 meters.
The first flight took place on February 13, 1956. A total of 12 aircraft were produced over the years of the project's existence. During one of the test flights, an accident occurred, resulting in the death of the pilot, Lieutenant Wallis. In general, the project turned out to be unprofitable; the safety of inflatable aircraft left much to be desired. The project was completely closed in 1973.

"Goblin"

"Flying Baths"

The development of wingless aircraft was associated with NASA's desire to create a controlled capsule to return astronauts to Earth. Numerous tests and calculations have suggested the optimal shape for such shuttles - an irregular cone. When flowing around the body at high speeds during deorbit, the difference in pressure on the lower and upper parts of the device creates a lifting force, which has a positive effect on the controllability of the aircraft.
In appearance, all 5 NASA projects were approximately the same. The nose of the aircraft had glazing in the lower part for better visibility; the shape was always a semi-cone with two vertical fins without external elevons; the rudders were also used as brake flaps.
In just three years of testing, more than 400 lifts of vehicles from the ground and about 80 flights behind aircraft were carried out. The projects were quite successful, but with the start of the Shuttle project, the need for these mini-shuttles disappeared.

"Pregnant Guppy"

The US space program also moved forward the aircraft industry. The rapid technological race required large volumes of transportation to build the Cape Canaveral spaceport and deliver rocket parts to it. Conventional transport aircraft were poorly suited for these purposes - the cargo was heavy and non-standard in shape. Boeing was commissioned to develop a project for a more spacious and load-carrying transporter. It was completed within a year.
The B-377 Stratocruiser of the 1947 modification was taken as the basis. The aircraft fuselage was expanded by more than five meters and the cargo compartment was increased.

As a result, the aircraft acquired very unusual contours and received the name 377-PG. In this case, the letters PG were translated as Pregnant Guppy. The carrying capacity of the new aircraft reached 26 tons. Later, the aircraft model was upgraded to the Super Guppy, which could deliver a cargo of a quarter of a hundred tons over a distance of up to a thousand kilometers at a speed of 430 km/h. “Pregnant Guppies” flew until the 70s, when they were replaced by similar modifications of the Boeing 747 and Airbus A-300.

Airplane turbine

Operation Paperclip brought many promising scientists to the United States. Among them was the German aircraft designer Alexander Lippisch, creator of the Messerschmitt Me 163 jet interceptor. Lippisch had a truly unique view of aircraft construction.

He worked for the USA, but in 1967 he managed to return to Germany. Dornier invited Lippisch to further develop his old Aerodyne piston project. The designer provided consultations to engineers designing the vehicle known as the Dornier E-1. Work on the project was carried out from 1968 to 1971.

In 1972, the Dornier E-1 successfully passed takeoff tests, demonstrating a smooth climb and minimal defects during landing. Despite its success, the project was never put into series. The Bundeswehr lost interest in him after the decision to use manned aircraft for reconnaissance.

​Dear reader, just recently you and I had the opportunity to talk about a very interesting area of ​​technological progress, and judging by the responses, it is interesting not only to men but also to our fair sex, dear women. We talked about the exciting history, beautiful, although not always, concepts and designs. I agree, the topic is quite interesting, especially since it worries almost everyone, because every day we come across this type of transport and many have the opportunity to drive their beautiful car.

In today’s article I would like to provide material about a not so distant, despite its frequent location, form of transport - the airplane. Namely, about rare, sometimes strange and crazy ideas and designs, both from ours and from foreign aircraft designers.

What can I say, flying on an airplane brings a lot of pleasure. And I will not be mistaken if I say that a person who has at least once used the services of Aeroflot was left with excellent impressions. Although... If you look at the miracles of aircraft manufacturing that we will talk about today, I will probably be a little more careful in my judgments.

Go? Or it would be more correct to say: “Let's fly!”

Very often, aircraft designers design their aircraft around a central concept of functionality. However, sometimes they just want to prove that their car flies. From UFO-like saucers to inflatable airplanes, designers have tried and tested almost everything. Some of these bizarre, strange creatures have become the source of future generations of flying machines, while others are gathering dust in museums or, worse yet, awaiting their fate in "graveyards."

Top 10 strangest aircraft that existed in the history of aircraft manufacturing.

The Goodyear Inflatoplane

To begin the list of the strangest airplanes that have existed in the history of mankind, let me just tell you that creating an inflatable airplane to rescue surrounded soldiers on the battlefield was not a bright idea, to say the least. However, this is exactly what Goodyear tried to do when it sold its idea for a new inflatable airplane to the US Army in 1956.

Naturally, the Army was interested and impressed by this strange idea and asked Goodyear to develop some prototypes for testing.

The initial prototype, GA-33, was built and flown in less than 12 days. It was basically a huge hot air balloon with an air engine on top. The wings, seat and tail were made from durable aircraft fabric developed exclusively by Goodyear for the Inflatoplane. Called Airmat, it was made by weaving layers of rubberized nylon with thousands of nylon threads. The rest of the fuselage was a conventional airship. The pressure needed to maintain the airframe's rigidity was provided by an air compressor, which was driven by the same 40 horsepower engine that propelled the aircraft.

When not in use, the entire aircraft and its engine could be packed into a box small enough to be transported in a wheelbarrow. The box could also be carried in the back of a jeep, truck, or even parachuted from an airplane. The big idea was to drop the packed aircraft behind enemy lines, then a soldier could use a hand pump to inflate it and have it ready for flight in less than 6 minutes. Later prototypes such as the GA 468 and GA 467 included a more powerful 60 hp engine along with two-seat variants.

After much testing, the Army concluded that the aircraft was simply not practical to serve as a rescue and reconnaissance aircraft. And it's not hard to see why an inflatable rubber plane that flies at 55 mph isn't exactly what a soldier would want. By 1959, Goodyear ceased production of Inflatoplanes and the program came to an end. However, this is one of those strange aircraft that actually had a place in the aircraft industry.

The Stipa-Caproni

This unique aircraft, also known as the "Flying Barrel", was the brainchild of Italian aeronautical engineer Luigi Stipa and is still considered one of the unusual aircraft.

After an in-depth study of the principles of dynamics, the design engineer believed that if the engine and propeller were placed in a conical tube, the overall thrust output would be increased. He called his project "intubated propeller".

To test his theory, he began collaborating with the famous Italian aircraft designer Caproni and in 1932 began working on a prototype. Stipa used a 120 horsepower De-Havilland Gipsy 3 engine attached to a wooden propeller with two blades. The entire assembly was contained within the aircraft's large tubular fuselage.

The test flight results proved that the new design was an aerodynamic marvel. Despite the weak engine and short wing span, the aircraft showed great stability. However, it was unable to achieve high speed due to the large amount of drag generated by the fuselage. This limited the aircraft's top speed to 81 mph. However, Luigi didn't care about top speed.

The readings confirmed that its design was suitable for use in larger aircraft engines such as bombers and commercial airliners. Luigi then approached the Italian government and asked for funding to take his elaborate propeller design to the next level. Although test pilots confirmed the advantages of its design, the government was more interested in the speed of the aircraft. Consequently, the Stipa Caproni project was revised and forgotten.

The Blohm & Voss BV 141

Already in 1937, the Nazi air force needed a reconnaissance aircraft. To accomplish this task, two aircraft were selected: the Focke-Wulf 189 “Uhu” and a completely new development - the Blohm & Voss BV-141 (LINK 5) asymmetric tactical reconnaissance aircraft. Later he entered the list of the most unusual flying machines.

The Focke-Wulf was a conventional twin-engine aircraft and was officially declared the winner. However, the design of the BV 141 was so promising that the ministry secretly decided to continue research on the aircraft.

Unlike other aircraft of its time, the BV 141 used an asymmetrical approach. The plane was divided into two separate sections, connected together by the wing. The main body housed the BMW engine, and the cockpit was located away from the body, on the wing. The design was inspired by the ideals of former pilot Richard Vogt, who was a designer at Blohm & Voss.

The aircraft was by far a better observation aircraft than the Focke-Wulf 189 and certainly one of the strangest aircraft. Despite an order for 500 of these machines, the project was stopped due to various factors. Later, Allied bombing destroyed the main Focke-Wulf plant, resulting in about 80% of the Blohm & Voss workforce switching to production of Focke-Wulf aircraft.

Hughes H4 Hercules

Back in 1942, the American government needed a large cargo aircraft that could transport troops and cargo across the Atlantic to Europe.

The Second World War was going on. Nazi ships and submarines constantly attacked American supply ships trying to reach Europe. Aviation magnate and billionaire Howard Hughes responded with a proposal that no one thought was reasonable at the time - the H4 H4.

If this project is completed, it will be the largest aircraft ever built, as well as the largest flying ship.

- said Howard Hughes.

What's even more interesting is that when Hughes signed his contract with the Army, he was prohibited from using metals in the construction of his giant airplane because it was wartime and metal was in short supply. So Hughes decided to make a giant airplane out of wood.

As the war dragged on, people began to doubt Hughes, who could not complete the development of his giant "Flying Dutchman". The press began to mock him, calling his creation a “Christmas tree.” The plane was actually made from laminated birch wood.

Hughes continued to work on the aircraft until it was ready in 1947. On a short flight to Long Beach Harbor, Hughes decided to find out if his plane could fly. He did it. His creation flew only a mile, 70 feet above the ocean's surface. It has never flown since and is the only one of its kind.

It still holds the record for the highest wingspan of any aircraft ever built, including giants like the Antonov An-225 and Airbus A380, not to mention one of the strangest aerial creations to take to the skies.

Vought V-173 / XF5U-1 "Flying Pancake"

This is certainly one of the unusual aircraft designs that can easily be added to today's list.

After the Japanese Air Force attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, the US military needed an aircraft that could take off and land in a confined space, such as the deck of an aircraft carrier. It was also expected that the new device would be effective in combat encounters with submarines and fighters. The development was entrusted to the Vought company, which was famous for producing the famous F4U Corsair fighters.

In 1942, the company began working on the "Flying Flapjack" design, a shape that did not have a nose, tail or wing section. Instead, the entire body resembled a pancake-like shape, with two propellers protruding from the tip of each side.

The first prototype was named V-173. It really impressed during test runs, demonstrating the ability to take off and land at extremely low speeds. This was due to the fact that, unlike most conventional aircraft, the entire body of the V-173 was involved in lifting the vehicle as it took to the skies. The hull was also very stable and did not impede movement during flight. All this made it an ideal candidate for aircraft carriers.

The Navy soon began funding production and testing of an improved version of the XF5U-1. It was basically a redesigned V-173 with larger engines and a larger body. The designers also intended to use lightweight material for the aircraft body. It was a balsa wood core laminated with aluminum. At that time it seemed fantastic.

The XF5U was expected to have a top speed of 425 mph with a landing speed of only 20 mph. However, the design suffered from excessive vibration in the engine compartments. These vibrations could potentially destabilize the aircraft in flight, so testing was delayed. By the time the problems were resolved, the war was over, and the military began to turn its attention to jet aircraft, which looked much more promising.

The Bartini Beriev VVA 14 (Bartini Beriev VVA 14)

The Bartini VVA 14 was an experimental seaplane prototype developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The designer of this strange aircraft was Italian aeronautical engineer Robert Bartini.

When the Soviet Union began to fear that the United States would launch a nuclear attack on them from its submarines, the country's leadership turned to the Beriev aviation company, which was well known for the development of its seaplanes.

It was decided to build an amphibious aircraft that could take off from land and water, could glide at high speeds on the surface of the ocean, and also have VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) capabilities. His most important task was to hunt US Army submarines.

If successfully developed, VVA 14 would prove a serious threat to any Western navies attempting to invade Soviet waters. Development of the first prototypes began in the early 1970s.

The body of the device resembled the fuselage of bomber aircraft, with pontoon arms extended on both sides. One straight wing provided lift, and two turbofan engines provided airborne propulsion. The aircraft initially used inflatable pontoons, but later switched to metal ones to enable high-speed travel on water. Two more turbofans were added to the forward end of the fuselage to give it high speed on the water surface.

Unfortunately, the final design was never completed as the company tasked with supplying the jet engines needed for vertical takeoff never delivered them on time. Bartini died in 1974 and with his death the aircraft began to encounter numerous problems during testing and the project was finally abandoned. It's a pity.

The last remaining VVA 14 is in dismantled condition at the Air Force Museum in Monino, Moscow.

The Konstantin Kalinin K-7 (Konstantin Kalinin K-7)

One look at this plane and you can definitely tell where it came from. From Russia. Sorry, in this case from the USSR, since this aircraft was built in the 1930s.

Its purpose was to serve as a bomber/cargo aircraft. The K-7 was the largest aircraft of its time, with a wingspan longer than the B-52, so it landed with importance right on that list of unusual flying designs.

It was created by former World War 1 pilot Konstantin Kalinin. The aircraft's design was quite unorthodox, with a small central fuselage and giant, thick wings. The landing gear was built into two pontoon structures under the wings. Propulsion was provided by a total of seven V12 engines, six in thrust and one in push configuration. The plane was capable of carrying 19 people along with 16 tons of bombs and 120 paratroopers in its giant wings. Strange structures below the wings held the landing gear, along with eight 7.62mm machine guns and eight 20mm cannons.

The first and only K-7 developed was used in a total of seven test flights. He could fly, which was quite amazing.

However, there were some problems. During the flight, the tail sections vibrated strongly. The smart designers decided to weld giant pieces of steel for the tail booms to hold them in place rather than look for real problems with the aircraft. And thus the test flights continued.

However, on one test flight, the tail section broke and the ailerons jammed, causing the aircraft to crash. The accident resulted in the death of 15 people and was a major blow to the Soviet propaganda machine, which had just revealed its huge aircraft to the world. Konstantin Kalinin was arrested on charges of sabotaging his own plane, branded a traitor, and was eventually executed by firing squad in 1938.

The Avro VZ9 Avrocar

The VZ9 was the result of an experiment conducted by Avro Canada and the US military to create a "flying saucer". This is actually why this project ended up on our list of strange aircraft.

It's clear that someone at the Pentagon was heavily into watching a ton of movies about aliens and their vehicles.

The military hoped that the "saucer" would have stealth characteristics, be able to fly at altitudes of up to 100,000 feet and have a maximum speed exceeding sound.

This "brainchild" created by the Avro company, nowhere came close to achieving these impressive goals set by the US military. Instead, it could barely rise above 3 or 4 feet before losing control, and the top speed was only 35 mph. In addition, piloting the aircraft was a huge inconvenience and caused physical harm to the pilot. The centralized rotor lifted everything that was under the device, water, sand, stones and threw it in the pilot’s face. So it was very difficult to fly without a protective windshield.

Numerous tests in NASA's air navigation tunnels revealed that the aircraft's design was fundamentally flawed, and any attempt to increase performance would require a complete overhaul of the basic design. After spending more than $10 million on the project, the government finally decided it was in its best interest to abandon the project.

The XF-85 Goblin

Long-range bombing aircraft were extremely important to the aviation of any country, and World War II proved this fact. Although bombers were good at delivering large payloads over long distances, they could not deal with enemy fighters. And the accompanying fighters could not keep up, or rather wing-wise, with the ever-expanding range of bombers.

The Goblin was the smallest jet fighter ever built, with an egg-shaped body that was only 15 feet long. It was equipped with four .50 caliber machine guns to compensate for its unimpressive size.

It was originally installed inside the hull of a B-29 to test its functionality before being used in the B-36. "Baby" Goblin had to separate from the bomber body, complete its mission and return back.

Separation was not a problem and the tiny plane handled it just fine. However, the biggest problem was the return. The B-29's propeller blast would throw the Goblin sideways, making hooking the hook to the trapeze nearly impossible.

Only 3 of 7 re-engagement attempts were successful, and in one case the aircraft crashed into the trapeze, breaking the forward fuselage and cockpit canopy. Since the designers did not provide any landing gear, the pilot somehow miraculously landed on the water surface of the lake.

Other re-entry problems, the Goblin's tiny engine and limited firepower would have put it at a disadvantage compared to Soviet fighters.

Due to docking problems and poor performance, the USAF eventually canceled the Goblin program. Later they began to focus on long-range refueling of aircraft, a much more practical solution to the bomber escort problem. But still, little Goblin found a place on our list.

The Lun class Ekranoplane

The Lun ekranoplan tops the list of unusual aircraft created by aircraft designers. If there is one word to describe Soviet technology, it is “huge.”

This particular mammoth aircraft, known as the Lun-class MD-160, is a cross between an airplane and a ship. It could fly just 5 meters above the water and reach speeds of over 500 km/h. The upper fuselage is equipped with six SS-N-22 anti-ship missile launchers. If small threats appeared, such as boats or low-flying aircraft, Lun was equipped with 23 mm cannons and 50 caliber machine guns.

During the Cold War, Soviet designers experimented with a special type of aircraft known as an ekranoplan. These planes could fly very close to the surface of the water, and could glide at high speeds along the surface of the ocean. This resulted in improved fuel efficiency as well as stealth since radar, which at the time was not capable of detecting aircraft flying at such low altitudes, could not do so.

The first and only aircraft of this class in history was designed as a high-speed vehicle for transporting people and ships. It was deployed to the Black Sea Fleet in 1987 and remained in service until the late 1990s. The plane weighed 350 tons and was longer than other similar aircraft. It could travel across the surface of the ocean at speeds of almost 500 km/hour, faster than any ship, making it an excellent interceptor vehicle.

The ekranoplan could also sneak past enemy radar and fire a salvo of anti-ship missiles before the enemy realized the plane was even there. However, the large size of the "giant" made it an easy target for enemy fighters, so an entire escort of fighter planes and submarines would be needed to accompany it. Plans for a second Lun ekranoplan, both as a rapid response aircraft and as a search and rescue vessel, began in the late 1980s, but the collapse of the Soviet Union marked the end of the program.

The beautiful Lun MD-160 was decommissioned in 1997 and is now at the naval base in Kaspiysk, awaiting its fate. There are rumors that activists are turning to the authorities in order to preserve the ekranoplan and transfer it to the museum. At the moment, the fate of the Project 903 Lun ekranoplan rocket ship is unknown.

Whatever methods and types of means of transportation, our dear reader, you use, remember that there are still many unusual, strange and fascinating things in the world, which we will talk about at our next meeting. Bye!

With the development of the aviation industry, more and more aircraft designers began to present their projects that were unusual at first glance. Each of them has a different structural concept, some of them have completely changed the laws of aerodynamics and lift.

The most unusual cargo planes

The Super Guppy transport aircraft is designed for transporting large-sized cargo. The aircraft is developed by the American company Aero Spacelines. A total of five copies and two modifications of the aircraft were created.

The airplane, better known as the Model Ship or the Caspian Monster, is an experimental device capable of taking off from water, which is still the largest in the world today. The plane had a wing length of 37.6 meters, the length of the fuselage reached hundreds of meters. Tests were carried out monthly for fifteen years, but in 1980, due to a pilot error, the plane suffered a serious accident, as a result of which, fortunately, no one was injured.

An experimental circular aircraft called the Vought V-173 was built and first flown in 1947. The aircraft had an unusual design that surprised engineers with its shape and characteristics. The project provided for the possibility of vertical or short takeoff and landing with a short braking distance.

The most unusual experimental aircraft

An unusual project of the large American company Nasa called “M2-F1” from the first days of its existence received the unusual nickname “flight bathtub”. The main purpose of the aircraft was to use it as a capsule for soft landing of astronauts. The wingless plane first took to the skies in August 1963, and a few years later crashed, killing the pilot.

Between 1979 and 1983, a series of tests were conducted on two jet-powered HiMATs at one of NASA's satellite airfields. Each of the devices was half the size of the famous F-16 strategic bomber, but it had greater speed, maneuverability and controllability. At a speed of 400 km per hour and an altitude of more than seven kilometers, the drone made a sharp combat turn of 180 degrees and withstood a maximum overload of +8g, which was quite a high figure in comparison with the F-16. Today, both devices are exhibits, unsuitable for flight, and are stored on the Nasa estate.

The development of an unmanned aircraft, named McDonell Douglas X-36, was created in order to test the flight and aerodynamic capabilities of tailless aircraft. The device first took to the skies at the end of the last century, and made a number of successful flights and tests.

The Ames AD-1 aircraft is the first and only aircraft in the world today equipped with an oblique wing, which is located with a slight deviation to the right along the central axis of the aircraft. For the first time, the device left the ground in 1979, and over the next three years it participated in numerous tests. During the research period, the AD-1 was tested and evaluated by more than 15 pilots. Today, this unusual oblique airplane is located on the museum site of the American city of San Carlos.

The device, bearing the name VZ-9-AV Avrocar, is like a flying saucer, capable of vertical take-off, flight and landing. The miracle of technology was developed by a popular aircraft manufacturing company. The device first took to the skies in the late sixties, but just two years later the unusual project was frozen due to low power and flight characteristics.

The fighter, which is built in the shape of a flying wing, was built and first flown in 1945 by the American organization Northrop. It was planned to use the aircraft as a strategic bomber, but it crashed on its first flight.

The Boeing X-48 is a test drone that was created jointly by two of the largest American aviation industrial companies: Boeing, which produces aircraft, and Nasa, which produces and launches aircraft and missiles. The first liftoff of the aircraft took place in mid-2007. During the test flight, it rose to a height of more than two kilometers and successfully landed at the designated location half an hour after departure.

The NASA Hyper III aircraft is another project of the American organization Nasa, created at the end of 1970. The aircraft uses a combined fin and stabilizer system, which, as a result of their combination, represent two control surfaces located at an angle of 45 degrees from the fuselage.

The HL-10 is one of many NASA aircraft that were used and designed to study the flight performance of single-fin wingless airplanes upon their return from near space.

The development of the Russian combat aviation Su-47 modernization of the "Berkut" is an unusual development of the Russian single-deck combat fighter, which was created in the Sukhoi bureau. The plane has an unusual wing, the sweep of which has a negative coefficient. The aircraft uses a large amount of composite materials, which reduces the weight of the aircraft by one quarter. The first aircraft was manufactured and first flown at the end of the last century, and is still used as an experimental model.

The Grumman X-29 is a prototype aircraft with a forward-swept main wing with all control surfaces (roll and pitch). In total, two such copies have survived.

The sharp-nosed aircraft, called the Douglas X-3 Stiletto, is an American experimental airplane whose main task was to conduct a series of tests to overcome maximum speed and maneuverability.

The descent passenger compartment, which was built in 1963 and was part of the American Apollo project, the main goal of which was landing on the Moon. The device is equipped with one liquid fuel jet engine.

The most unusual helicopters

The Boeing Vertol VZ-2 is the world's first and only such rotary-wing helicopter that uses the latest rotary wing concept. The device first flew and hovered in the air in mid-1957. After a series of experiments, the device was transferred for further use to NASA.

The S-72 is an experimental helicopter-plane, the first flight of which was made in October 1976. After three flights, funding for the project was stopped.

At the end of the last century, in connection with the constant needs of the Soviet Union in terms of transporting wheat and grain, the development and further creation of a huge and heavy-lifting helicopter began. In August 1969, a world record for the carrying capacity of such devices was achieved on a super-heavy helicopter of the MI V-12 type. The helicopter lifted a cargo weighing 40 tons on board to a height of more than two kilometers. In total, about eight records were achieved with this twin-rotor helicopter.

It's amazing what kind of aircraft you can put together with enough effort, pure creativity and a lot of money invested in the project. Review of unusual designs of aircraft, helicopters and landers, from flying saucers to “Caspian monsters”. Expensive, experimental and often never off the ground.

Wingless. NASA's M2-F1 project was nicknamed the "flying bathtub." The developers saw its main purpose as being used as a capsule for landing astronauts. The first flight of this wingless aircraft took place on August 16, 1963, and exactly three years later on the same day, the last one took place:



Remote controlled. From mid-1979 to January 1983, NASA tested two remotely piloted HiMAT vehicles. Each aircraft was approximately half the size of the F-16, but had nearly twice the maneuverability. At transonic speed of sound at an altitude of 7500 m, the device could make a turn with an overload of 8 g; for comparison, the F-16 fighter at the same altitudes can withstand only 4.5 g. At the end of the research, both devices were preserved:

Tailless. A McDonell Douglas X-36 prototype aircraft built for one purpose: to test the flying capabilities of tailless aircraft. It was built in 1997 and, as planned by the developers, could be controlled remotely from the ground:

Crooked. Ames AD-1 (Ames AD-1) - experimental and the world's first oblique-wing aircraft by Ames Research Center and Burt Rutan. It was built in 1979 and made its first flight on December 29 of the same year. Tests were carried out until the beginning of 1982. During this time, 17 pilots mastered the AD-1. After the program was closed, the plane was placed in the museum of the city of San Carlos, where it is still located:

With rotating wings. Boeing Vertol VZ-2 is the world's first aircraft using the rotating wing concept, with vertical/short take-off and landing. The first flight with vertical take-off and hovering was made by VZ-2 in the summer of 1957. After a series of successful tests, VZ-2 was transferred to NASA Research Center in the early 60s:

The largest helicopter. In connection with the needs of the Soviet national economy and armed forces in the design bureau named after. M. L. Mil in 1959 began research on a super-heavy helicopter. On August 6, 1969, the MI V-12 helicopter set an absolute world record for lifting a load - 40 tons to a height of 2,250 meters, which has not been surpassed to date; In total, the B-12 helicopter set 8 world records. In 1971, the B-12 helicopter was successfully demonstrated at the 29th International Aerospace Show in Paris, where it was recognized as the “star” of the show, and then in Copenhagen and Berlin. The B-12 is the heaviest and most lifting helicopter ever built in the world:

Flying saucer. VZ-9-AV Avrocar is a vertical take-off and landing aircraft developed by the Canadian company Avro Aircraft Ltd. The development of the aircraft began in 1952 in Canada. On November 12, 1959, it made its first flight. In 1961, the project was closed, as officially stated due to the inability of the “plate” to rise above 1.5 meters from the ground. A total of two Avrocar devices were built:

Strange looking. The Northrop XP-79B flying wing fighter, equipped with two jet engines, was built in 1945 by the American company Northrop. It was supposed to dive on enemy bombers and destroy them by cutting off the tail section. On September 12, 1945, the plane made its only flight, which ended in disaster after 15 minutes of flight:

Airplane-spaceship. Boeing X-48 is an American experimental unmanned aerial vehicle created jointly by Boeing and NASA. The device uses one of the varieties of a flying wing. On July 20, 2007, it was the first to rise to a height of 2,300 meters and land after 31 minutes of flight. The X-48B was named the Times' Best Invention of 2007.

Futuristic. Another NASA project - NASA Hyper III - an aircraft created in 1969:

Flying pancake. Experimental aircraft Vought V-173. In the 1940s, American engineer Charles Zimmerman created an aircraft with a unique aerodynamic design, which still continues to amaze not only with its unusual appearance, but also with its flight characteristics. For his unique appearance, he was awarded many nicknames, among which was “Flying Pancake.” It became one of the first vertical/short take-off and landing vehicles:

Descended from heaven. The HL-10 is one of five NASA Flight Research Center aircraft used to study and test the ability to safely maneuver and land a low lift-to-drag vehicle after returning from space:

Reverse sweep. Su-47 "Berkut" is a Russian carrier-based fighter project developed at the Design Bureau named after. Sukhoi. The fighter has a forward-swept wing; composite materials are widely used in the airframe design. In 1997, the first flying example of the Su-47 was built, now it is experimental:

Striped. The Grumman X-29 is a prototype forward-swept wing aircraft developed in 1984 by Grumman Aerospace Corporation (now Northrop Grumman). A total of two copies were built by order of the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency:

Vertical take-off. The LTV XC-142 is an American experimental tilt-wing vertical take-off and landing transport aircraft. Made its first flight on September 29, 1964. Five aircraft were built. The program was discontinued in 1970. The only surviving example of the aircraft is on display at the US Air Force Museum:

“KM” (Mock-up Ship), also known abroad as the “Caspian Monster”, is an experimental ekranoplan developed at the design bureau of R. E. Alekseev. The ekranoplan had a wingspan of 37.6 m, a length of 92 m, and a maximum take-off weight of 544 tons. Before the appearance of the An-225 Mriya aircraft, it was the heaviest aircraft in the world. Tests of the “Caspian Monster” took place in the Caspian Sea for 15 years until 1980. In 1980, due to a pilot error, the KM crashed; there were no casualties. After which no operations were carried out to restore or build a new copy of the CM:

Air whale. Super Guppy is a transport aircraft for transporting oversized cargo. Developer - Aero Spacelines. Released in five copies in two modifications. First flight - August 1965. The only flying “air whale” belongs to NASA and is used to deliver large items to the ISS:

Pointed nose. Douglas X-3 Stiletto is an American experimental monoplane aircraft manufactured by Douglas. In October 1952, the first flight of the Douglas X-Z aircraft took place:

For flights to the moon. This lander, built in 1963, was part of Project Apollo, which aimed to achieve the first manned landing on the Moon. The module was equipped with one jet engine:

Rotorcraft. Sikorsky S-72 is an experimental helicopter. The S-72 made its first flight on October 12, 1976. The modernized S-72 flew on December 2, 1987, but after the next three flights, funding was discontinued:

Rocket plane. The Ryan X-13A-RY Vertijet is an experimental vertical take-off and landing jet aircraft created in the United States in the 1950s. Developed by Ryan. Customer: US Air Force. A total of two such aircraft were built:

 

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