Unique aircraft. The most unusual aircraft

Mankind has been striving upward for centuries and millennia; legends, myths, traditions and fairy tales are composed of people's attempts to overcome the earth's gravity. The ancient gods could move in the air on their chariots, someone did not even need them. The most famous "sky pilots" include Icarus, as well as Santa Claus (aka Santa Claus).

More real examples for history are Leonardo da Vinci, the Montgolfier brothers and other engineers, as well as enthusiasts who are passionate about their ideas, such as, for example, the American Wright brothers. The modern era of aircraft construction began with the latter, it was they who brought out some of the fundamental principles that are still used today.

As in the case of automobiles, the efficiency of aircraft grew over time, and designers got more opportunities to create some new, often revolutionary means of air transportation. With sufficient funding and support from those in power (more often - the military), it was possible to realize the most unusual projects. Often these were devices unadapted to life, which could fly only on paper. Others did get off the ground, but their production turned out to be too expensive. There were also other restrictions, including those of a technical nature.

We decided to list some both forgotten and promising aircraft for personal use. These are not transport aircraft. a large number passengers or bulk cargo, and individual funds movements, attracting with their unusualness and theoretically capable of simplifying the life of a person of the future.

(Total 30 photos + 10 videos)

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HZ-1 Aerocycle (YHO-2)

1. The HZ-1 Aerocycle (YHO-2) is a personal helicopter developed by de Lackner Helicopters in the mid-1950s. The customer of the device was the US military, who intended to provide their soldiers with a convenient means of transportation. The Aerocycle was a platform, from below to which two propellers rotating in different directions were attached (the length of each blade was more than 4.5 meters).

2. They were powered by a 4-cylinder engine with a capacity of 43 horsepower, the maximum flight speed of the unit was up to 110 km / h.

3. The YHO-2 was tested by professional pilot Selmer Sandby, who became a volunteer in this matter. His longest flight lasted 43 minutes, others ended a few seconds after takeoff. There were also incidents: several times the blades of two propellers touched, which led to their deformation, as well as loss of control over the apparatus.

4. It was assumed that anyone could fly the YHO-2 after a 20-minute briefing, but Sandby doubted this. The danger was carried by huge blades that could frighten a person, even though the pilot's position was fixed by seat belts. The engineers were never able to solve the problem with the propellers, and as a result, the project was closed. Of the 12 ordered personal helicopters, only one remained intact - it is exhibited in one of the American museums. By the way, Selmer Sandby received the Flying Merit Cross for his service and participation in the YHO-2 tests.

jetpack

5. In the 1950s, another promising individual vehicle was being developed - the jetpack. This idea, which appeared in science fiction as far back as the 1920s, later found its embodiment in comics and films (for example, "The Rocketeer" in 1991), but before that, engineers and designers spent a lot of effort on realizing the idea of \u200b\u200bmaking a rocket man. Attempts have not stopped so far, but the level of technology development still does not allow to overcome some limitations. In particular, there is no talk of a long-term flight yet, controllability also leaves much to be desired. There are also questions regarding the safety of the pilot

6. The "pioneer" among rocket packs was distinguished by incredible "gluttony": a flight lasting up to 30 seconds required 19 liters of hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide). The pilot could effectively jump into the air or fly a hundred meters, but this was where all the advantages of the device ended. To maintain a single satchel, a whole team of specialists was required, its speed of movement was relatively low, and to increase the flight range, a tank was needed, which the pilot could not hold.

7. The military, who saw in a very expensive project the prospect of creating space infantry or flying special forces, were disappointed.

8. Subsequently, a modernized version of the device appeared - RB 2000 Rocket Belt. Its development was carried out by three Americans: insurance seller and entrepreneur Brad Barker, businessman Joe Wright and engineer Larry Stanley. Unfortunately, the group broke up: Stanley accused Barker of embezzlement and the latter fled with a sample of RB 2000. A court later followed, but Barker refused to pay $ 10 million. Stanley grabbed former partner and put him in a box for eight days, for which in 2002, after the flight of an insurance agent, he received a life sentence (it was reduced to eight years). After all these ups and downs, the RB 2000 was never found.

Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar

9. In the late 1940s, the so-called Roswell Incident occurred, which probably influenced the minds of Canadian engineers. They took part in the development of the Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar VTOL aircraft. When looking at it, an analogy with flying saucers immediately comes to mind. The pilot project cost at least three years and $10 million. In total, two copies of the high-tech "doughnut" with a turbine in the middle were built.

10. It was assumed that Avrocar, using the Coanda effect (since 2012 it has been operated in Formula 1), will be able to develop high speed. Being maneuverable and having a decent flight range, it will eventually turn into a "flying jeep". The diameter of the "dish" with two cockpits for pilots was 5.5 meters, the height was less than a meter, and the weight was 2.5 tons. The maximum flight speed of Avrocar, according to the designers, was to reach 480 km / h, the flight altitude - more than 3 thousand meters.

11. The second full-fledged prototype did not justify the hopes of its creators: it could only accelerate to an unimpressive 56 km / h. In addition, the device behaved unpredictably in the air, and there was no talk of an effective flight. The engineers also found out that it would not be possible to lift the Avrocar into the air to any significant height, and the existing sample risked getting stuck in tall grass or small shrubs.

AeroVelo Atlas bicycle helicopter

13. In 2013, two Canadian engineers received the Sikorsky Prize, established in 1980. Initially, its size was 10 thousand dollars. In 2009, payments increased to 250 thousand dollars. According to the rules of the competition, the muscle-powered aircraft had to take off into the air to a height of at least three meters, while having good stability and controllability.

14. The creators of AeroVelo Atlas were able to complete all the tasks, presenting in their own way a futuristic vehicle worthy of conquering the sky of a planet with low gravity. Despite its huge size (the width of the bicycle helicopter was 58 meters, and the weight was only 52 kg), the worthy successor to da Vinci's ideas took off and even in a sense surpassed the "competitor" in the face of Avrocar: its flight height was 3.3 meters, duration - over a minute.

15. At peak, the Atlas pilot was able to generate the 1.5 horsepower required to reach the target altitude. At the end of the flight, the thrust was 0.8 horsepower - a trained athlete, a professional cyclist, pedaled.

A bicycle helicopter deserves attention as proof that, if desired, many obstacles can be bypassed and even something that does not inspire confidence at rest can be made to fly.

Hoverbike Chris Malloy

16. Someone is inspired by UFO stories and Chris Malloy is probably a fan star wars". So far, unfortunately, this is only an idea, partially embodied: the Australian continues to raise funds for the production of a fully working prototype of the aircraft.

17. To do this, he will need $ 1.1 million, but for now there are miniature versions of the hoverbike on sale: these are drones, through the sale of which Malloy intends to partially finance the construction of his offspring.

18. The engineer believes that his aircraft is better than the existing helicopters (it is with them that he compares the hoverbike). The unit does not require advanced knowledge in the field of piloting, as the main tasks will be performed by a computer. In addition, the device is lighter and cheaper.

19. It is planned that the device will be equipped with a tank of 30 liters of fuel (60 liters - with additional tanks), the flow rate will be 30 liters per hour, or 0.5 liters per minute. The width of the hoverbike reaches 1.3 meters, length - 3 meters, net weight - 105 kg, maximum takeoff weight - 270 kg.

20. The unit will be able to take off to a height of almost 3 km, and its speed will be more than 250 km/h. All this sounds promising, but so far it is unlikely.

21. A fully working water-powered rocket pack prototype was completed in 2008. According to its creators, the first draft of the future device appeared eight years before. A promo demonstrating the capabilities of the Jetlev was posted on YouTube in 2009, at the same time the developer company announced the cost of the first mass version of the device - 139.5 thousand dollars. Over time, the water-powered pack has noticeably decreased in price, which has decreased for the R200x model to 68.5 thousand dollars. This became possible due to the emerging competition.

22. In our list, this is the first aircraft that actually exists, works and has a certain popularity. It is “tied” to the water, but this does not detract from its merits: the maximum flight speed of the current model is 40 km / h, the height is about 40 meters. Given a sufficiently long river, a Jetlev pilot could cover almost 50 km (another question is whether there is a person who can withstand such a path).

23. The development does not claim to be a “serious” vehicle, but it will make you feel like James Bond, who has a new gadget from the research center of the British Secret Service.

M400 Skycar

24. One of the most controversial projects, which in the end may not be implemented. The designer Paul Moller has been creating a flying car for more than a decade. In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for him to draw attention to his vehicles that never took off. For all the time, the inventor has not been able to achieve significant and visible results, but at least since 1997 he has regularly attracted attention. financial services and regulatory bodies.

25. Initially, Moller was accused of issuing marketing materials in which he announced that his cars of the future would fill the airspace within a few years. Then doubts were raised by operations with securities and the possible deception of investors, as a result of which there were fewer and fewer people willing to invest in a bottomless project. The Canadian made his last attempt at the end of 2013, but by January 2014 he had collected less than $30,000 out of the required $950,000.

26. According to the designer, the M400X Skycar is currently under development. A car designed to carry one person (driver) is, on paper, capable of reaching speeds of up to 530 km/h and taking off to a height of 10,000 meters. In reality, the idea is likely to remain an idea, and Paul Moller's life's work, who turns 78 this year, will end in nothing.

Flying Motorcycle G2

27. In the future, it will definitely fly - this is evidenced by the tests of the first model carried out in 2005-2006. In the meantime, the device, which managed to win the title of "the world's fastest flying motorcycle", will suit Mad Max, Batman or 007.

28. Powered by a Suzuki GSX-R1000 engine, vehicle capable of reaching speeds of more than 200 km / h, which has been proven during races in the salt desert in the United States. The ability to conquer the sky, according to the developer, the flying motorcycle will receive in the coming months.

29. It was not in vain that the inventor chose a bike as the basis for the aircraft: according to American law, it will be much easier to register and use it on the roads.

30. Now Dejø Molnar is working on how to reduce the weight of the G2 and adapt the engine that drives the motorcycle to interact with the propeller. It was then that the engineer will publish a video demonstrating all the capabilities of the vehicle he is creating.

Aircraft

a device for flight in the atmosphere of the Earth (another planet) or in outer space. All aircraft are traditionally divided into lighter-than-air, heavier-than-air and space vehicles. The devices of the first group are balloons and airships. Strictly speaking, they are in no way lighter than air, and their lifting force arises due to the difference in the densities of the gas filling their shell (heated, helium, etc.) and the surrounding air. This lifting force acts on (the airship) constantly, regardless of whether it is flying or on the ground. If you do not hold it near the ground, then it rises, as if floating up in the air from denser to less dense layers of the atmosphere. Hence the definition of these aircraft - lighter than air. The horizontal movement of a flying balloon depends on the direction and strength of the wind; has its own propellers - propellers that create traction force for its translational movement.

Aircraft heavier than air are airplanes, helicopters, gliders, ekranoplans, rotorcraft, gyroplanes and others. In an airplane, glider, ekranoplan, the lift force that provides the possibility of flight is created mainly by the wings and, to a lesser extent, by the fuselage and tail unit. This force arises from the movement of the aircraft and varies approximately in proportion to the square of the flight speed. For each apparatus of this group, there exists at which the lifting force of the wings balances the gravity of the apparatus itself. Therefore, for takeoff, they need to achieve takeoff speed and take off from the surface of the earth, and when landing, in order to extinguish it to zero. For this, they build airfields with an airstrip. In helicopters, rotorcraft, gyroplanes, lift is created by rotating blades rotor(for rotorcraft - also with a wing), so they can take off and land without a run. The thrust force necessary for the translational movement of aircraft of this class is created by a propeller (for helicopters - a main rotor, and for rotorcraft - both air and main rotors), an air-jet engine or a rocket engine. Screw propellers and air-jet engines create thrust only in the atmosphere (air), and rocket engines - both in the atmosphere and in outer space.

Spacecraft include spacecraft, orbital stations, interplanetary spacecraft. To overcome the force of gravity of the Earth or another planet and launch a spacecraft into orbit, as well as to correct the trajectory of their flight and deceleration during descent, only rocket engines are used. Moreover, to launch the device into orbit, launch vehicles with powerful rocket engines are used, capable of accelerating the device to cosmic speeds, and for maneuvering in orbit - relatively low-power jet engines (for example, compressed air). During the descent of a spacecraft to the surface of a planet, two methods of deceleration are possible in order to reduce the rate of descent of the apparatus to zero: using a braking rocket engine (when landing on celestial bodies devoid of an atmosphere, for example, on the Moon); using a brake engine and a parachute (during landing of a spacecraft on Earth).

In the classification of aircraft, rockets stand apart, capable of moving both in the Earth's atmosphere and in airless space under the action of a reactive force - the thrust of a rocket engine. Rockets are used to launch spacecraft into orbit (carrier rockets), deliver weapons to various targets (combat rockets), conduct scientific research (geophysical and meteorological rockets), etc.

Encyclopedia "Technology". - M.: Rosman. 2006 .

Aircraft

(LA) - a device for flights in the Earth's atmosphere or in outer space. According to the presence of the crew, the aircraft are divided into manned and unmanned, according to the degree of reuse - into single-use and reusable, by purpose - into research (experimental), national economic (passenger, cargo, agricultural, etc.), military, sports. There are aerostatic, aerodynamic, spacecraft and rockets.
Aerostatic(aeronautical) aircraft - devices that are provided with an Archimedean force acting on a shell filled with light gas or warm air ( cm. Archimedes law, Aerostatics). These include balloons, stratospheric balloons, airships, hybrid aircraft. The first man was made in 1783 in a hot air balloon built by the brothers.
Aerodynamic LA - devices that use aerodynamic lifting force, which is formed when the airflow flows around the wing (gliders, airplanes, flywheels, ekranoplans, cruise missiles), the main rotor (gyroplanes, helicopters, flying platforms with a main rotor, etc.), the main body (devices with a main body). On some aerodynamic vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, it performs the functions of a carrier surface only in the presence of horizontal speed (convertible vehicles, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, rotorcraft).
Space Aircraft are intended for flights into outer space; include orbital, interplanetary and other vehicles. At the launch site, in accordance with its purpose, one or another is reported to the spacecraft (for example, with the help of a rocket), after which the aircraft continues to fly by inertia in the field of gravitational forces. The properties of aerodynamic and spacecraft are combined in an aerospace aircraft.
Rockets are capable of moving both in the Earth's atmosphere and in airless space under the action of a reactive force - the thrust of a rocket engine. They are used to launch space aircraft (carrier rockets), deliver weapons to various targets (combat missiles - ballistic and guided), conduct scientific research (geophysical and meteorological missiles), etc.

Aviation: Encyclopedia. - M.: Great Russian Encyclopedia. Chief editor G.P. Svishchev. 1994 .

See what an "aircraft" is in other dictionaries:

AIRCRAFT, any apparatus capable of flying in the earth's atmosphere. The most common type of such devices is an airplane, or airplane. This is an apparatus heavier than air, whose ability to fly depends on the presence of rigidly ... ... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

A device for flights in the atmosphere or outer space. There are aircraft lighter than air (balloons), heavier than air (see Aviation) and spacecraft ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

A technical device for carrying out flights in the Earth's atmosphere or in outer space. Those moving in the atmosphere are divided into aircraft lighter than air (for example, an airship) and heavier than air (for example, an airplane, rocket). ... ... Marine Dictionary Encyclopedic Dictionary

Aircraft- aircraft aircraft, helicopters, aviation, aviation space rockets, balloons, airships, gliders, autogyros, hang gliders and other aircraft. Aircraft can be military, special, civil and ... ... Official terminology

aircraft- orlaivis statusas T sritis Kūno kultūra ir sportas apibrėžtis Aparatas skraidyti atmosferoje. Orlaiviai gali būti lengvesni už orą, sukeliantys statinę keliamąją jėgą (pvz., aerostatas, dirižablis) ir sunkesni už orą, kurių keliamoji galia… … Sporto terminų žodynas

aircraft- (LA) - a device for flights in the Earth's atmosphere or in outer space. According to the presence of the crew, the aircraft are divided into manned and unmanned, according to the degree of reuse - into single and reusable, by purpose - into scientific ... ... Encyclopedia "Aviation"

On January 9, 1919, the Spanish inventor Juan de la Sierva made the first flight on the autogyro he invented. This amazing machine is a cross between a light aircraft and a helicopter, but has a lot of differences and advantages.

The autogyro is kept in the air with the help of a main rotor, the rotation of which is provided by the incoming air flow. The device is pulled by an ordinary propeller, like an airplane. The speed of a gyroplane is comparable to that of a light helicopter and somewhat inferior to a light aircraft (up to 180 km/h).

The advantages of this aircraft are extensive: the autogyro is cheaper than light aircraft and helicopters, it is easier to control, and most importantly, it is safe. Thanks to its design, the machine is not subject to spin, is able to make a soft landing with an idle engine, is not sensitive to turbulence and does not require a large landing area. The gyroplane is very convenient for aerial photography, video filming and surveillance due to its small, unlike a helicopter, vibration. In addition, some gyroplanes are capable of jump takeoff. Takeoff occurs vertically due to the accumulated energy of the propeller. True, such gyroplanes are a rarity: they are expensive and at present they are not mass-produced. We decided to recall other unusual aircraft.

Airbus A300-600ST Super Transporter also known as Airbus Beluga. This aircraft is really very reminiscent of a beluga whale. Beluga is one of the largest aircraft in existence. There are only five of them in the world, and they were all created for a single purpose. Beluga is designed to transport aircraft sections. Airbus aircraft fuselage parts are assembled in different countries Europe, and Beluga delivers them to German Hamburg and French Toulouse - this is where the final assembly takes place.

VTOL aircraft- a truly unusual device: it has no landing gear, it does not need a long runway, it rises into the air from a place like a helicopter. One of its first prototypes is the Ryan X-13 Vertijet, the world's first VTOL jet aircraft. The pilots who operated this machine described it as follows: "the less you know, the more confident you fly." The platform with the aircraft was raised to a vertical position, the aircraft was attached to the platform with a hook. Then the engine was started, the X-13 rose into the sky and only then moved to a horizontal position.

jetovator can equally be called both a swimming and an aircraft. This flying miracle of technology has already become a hit of the summer season. A jet lift, or waterplane, rises into the air, throwing down a water jet. This device can fly through a nozzle into which water is pumped under pressure. In fact, a jetovator consists of four devices: a jet ski, to which a special nozzle made of aluminum pipes is attached, a flexible hose, and the jet itself. This is a very unusual and absolutely safe attraction that allows a person to feel like a dolphin and soar above the water.

musculolete- an aircraft propelled by the power of human arms and legs. Musculoletes can also be in the form of airplanes, and helicopters, and even flywheels - when the devices flap their wings like birds. These are very light vessels, the weight of which is less than the pilot himself. The design of the muscle car is a strong and heavy carbon "skeleton", and everything else is created according to the principle "the lighter and cheaper, the better".

EKIP(short name for "Ecology and Progress") - perhaps the most unusual of the currently existing devices. His appearance resembles a space dish, but not an airplane. It's round like a UFO ship, and has an air cushion instead of a landing gear. The EKIP was invented in the early 1980s by Soviet pilot Lev Shchukin. The advantages of such an aircraft are that it can make an accident-free landing on unprepared ground or on water, even on one auxiliary engine. Unfortunately, the concept has not been fully implemented, so the ambitious future of EKIP is still in question.

It's amazing what kind of aircraft can be assembled with a lot of effort, creativity and a lot of money. I bring to your attention a selection of unusual and sometimes rather strange aircraft.

NASA's M2-F1 project was nicknamed the "flying bath". The developers saw its main purpose in use 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, two remotely piloted HiMAT vehicles were tested at NASA Air Force Base. Each aircraft was about half the size of the F-16, but had almost twice the maneuverability. At a 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 heights can withstand an overload of only 4.5 g. At the end of the research, both devices were saved:

Tailless. The McDonell Douglas X-36 prototype aircraft, built for one purpose: to test the flying abilities of tailless aircraft. It was built in 1997 and, as conceived 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 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, AD-1 mastered 17 pilots. After the closure of the program, the aircraft was placed in the Museum of the city of San Carlos, where it is still located:

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

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

Flying saucer. The VZ-9-AV Avrocar is a VTOL aircraft developed by the Canadian company Avro Aircraft Ltd. The development of the aircraft began in 1952 in Canada. November 12, 1959 made the first flight. In 1961, the project was closed, as officially stated due to the inability of the "plate" to get off the ground above 1.5 meters. In total, two Avrocar devices were built:

Fighter in the form of a flying wing Northrop XP-79B, equipped with two jet engines, was built in 1945 by the American company Northrop. It was assumed that he would dive on enemy bombers and break them, chopping off the tail section. On September 12, 1945, the aircraft made its only flight, which ended in disaster after 15 minutes of flight:

The plane is a spaceship. The Boeing X-48 (Boeing X-48) is an American experimental unmanned aerial vehicle, created jointly by Boeing and NASA. The device uses one of the varieties of the flying wing. July 20, 2007 he first rose to a height of 2300 meters and landed after 31 minutes of flight. The X-48B was the best invention of 2007 according to the Times.

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

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 takeoff 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 on a low lift-to-drag craft after it returned from space:

Reverse sweep. Su-47 "Berkut" - a project of the Russian carrier-based fighter, developed in the OKB. Sukhoi. The fighter has a reverse-swept wing; composite materials. In 1997, the first flying copy of the Su-47 was built, now it is experimental:

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

Take off vertically. The LTV XC-142 is an American experimental tilt-wing VTOL transport aircraft. He made his first flight on September 29, 1964. Five aircraft built. The program was discontinued in 1970. The only surviving copy of the aircraft is on display at the US Air Force Museum:

Caspian Monster. "KM" (Layout Ship), also known abroad as the "Caspian Monster" - an experimental ekranoplan developed in the design bureau of R. E. Alekseev. The ekranoplan had a wingspan of 37.6 m, a length of 92 m, and a maximum takeoff 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 for 15 years until 1980. In 1980, due to a pilot error, the KM crashed, there were no casualties. After that, operations to restore or build a new copy of the CM were not carried out:

Air whale. Super Guppy is a transport aircraft for transporting oversized cargo. Developer - Aero Spacelines. Issued in the amount of five copies in two modifications. First flight - August 1965. The only flying "air whale" belongs to NASA and is operated to deliver large items to the ISS.

It's amazing what kind of aircraft can be assembled with a lot of effort, creativity and a lot of money. I bring to your attention a selection of unusual and sometimes rather strange aircraft.

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

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

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

For flights to the moon. This descent module, built in 1963, was part of the Apollo project, the goal of which was the first manned landing on the moon. The module was equipped with one jet engine:

Rotorcraft. Sikorsky S-72 - experimental helicopter. The first flight of the S-72 was made on October 12, 1976. The flight of the upgraded S-72 took place on December 2, 1987, but after the following three flights, funding was discontinued:

Airplane-rocket. The Ryan X-13A-RY Vertijet is an experimental VTOL jet aircraft developed in the United States in the 1950s. The developer is Ryan. The customer is the US Air Force. In total, two such aircraft were built:

Lunar module. Another VTOL descent module, built in 1964, was part of the Apollo project, the goal of which was the first manned landing on the moon.

Unique aircraft. The most unusual aircraft

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