Ask a group of pilots whether they prefer flying a taildragger or a tricycle gear aircraft, and you’ll instantly spark a lively debate. Some will swear by the challenge and charm of a taildragger, while others prefer the predictability of...
During the early days of long-range strategic bombing, the U.S. military faced a critical problem: how to protect heavy bombers deep in enemy territory without relying on distant airbases. The McDonnell XF-85 Goblin, a tiny "parasite fighter" designed to be...
Few aircraft in history have been as audacious as the Caproni Ca.60 Noviplano—a nine-winged, triple-fuselage flying boat designed to carry 100 passengers across the Atlantic Ocean. Created in 1921 by Italian aviation pioneer Giovanni Battista Caproni, the Noviplano was a...
In the immediate aftermath of World War II, aviation was on the brink of a supersonic revolution. Engineers across the globe were racing to develop aircraft capable of breaking the sound barrier, and Britain was no exception. The de...
In the 1960s, the United States sought to dominate supersonic passenger travel, competing against the British-French Concorde. To achieve this, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched the National Supersonic Transport (SST) program, selecting Lockheed and Boeing as the two main...
The Northrop XP-79 was one of the most radical fighter aircraft concepts of World War II, designed to push the boundaries of aerial combat. Built in the mid-1940s, this flying wing jet had no conventional fuselage and was meant to...
The Lockheed XFV-1, nicknamed "Salmon" after its test pilot Herman “Fish” Salmon, was an ambitious experiment in vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Developed in the early 1950s, it was part of a U.S. Navy program to create a ship-based...
With its distinctive barrel-shaped fuselage, the Stipa-Caproni, an Italian-designed aircraft, looked more like a giant flying tube than your traditional airplane. Designed to increase engine efficiency and improve airflow, the Stipa-Caproni was an ambitious attempt to revolutionize aviation aerodynamics. ...
Built in 1934, this wacky looking aircraft featured a circular wing, designed to improve stability and stall resistance. Despite promising flight tests, this concept never reached mass production. So what was the purpose of this flying saucer-shaped plane, and...
