15 Bizarre Experimental Aircraft

From the Lockheed Martin X-56 to the amazing Flaming Pencil, here are 15 Bizarre Experimental Aircraft.

Subscribe to Knowledge Feed for awesome mysteries, discoveries, fun topics and all around AWESOME videos !

8. Lockheed Martin X-56
Designed to explore high altitude long endurance flight technologies the Lockheed Martin is an unmanned vehicle that first took to the skies in July of 2013. Two were built, and the crafts are small, just seven and a half feet long with a 27 and a half foot wingspan. They last made news in November 2015 when the Air Force announced that one crashed during a flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

7. Junkers Ju 390
Built by the Germans during World War Two it's a good thing these long range bombers never got the chance to show their full capabilities. The Junkers Ju 390 was shown to Hitler on November 26, 1943, at Insterburg, East Prussia just a month after performing beautifully in its maiden flight. Two prototypes were built, and the Air Ministry ordered 26 additional models to be constructed. The Germans began to lose the war, and these plans were scrapped by late 1944. The original prototype was destroyed as the Allies approached at the end of April 1945.

6. Stipa-Caproni
You’ve never seen an airplane quite like this before. Distinguished Italian aircraft designer Luigi Stipa built the Caproni in 1932. It's hollow, barrel-shaped fuselage completely enclosed its engine and propeller, giving the plane its unique look. Only one original was ever built as the Italian Air Force showed no desires in pursuing further development of the craft. Interest must have persisted in the Caproni however as a ⅗ replica was constructed in Australia in 1998 that was accurate down to the paint scheme. It flew two successful test flights in 2001 and is on display today.

5. Bell X-22
Of all of the experimental planes built for the Navy the Bell X-22, which was unveiled in Niagara Falls in 1965 was one of the most fascinating. The odd looking craft could take off vertically from a total stand still. Unfortunately, its propellers failed during a test flight, and the first prototype crashed in August of 1966. Technicians salvaged the plane to build a second prototype which would first fly, with improved performance, in August of 1967. Though the X-22 was deemed a success and the best of its kind the Navy canceled its program and the surviving prototype would be relegated to test flights, the last of which occurred in 1988.
4. Rockwell HiMAT
This remarkable looking craft was built to explore technologies for future fighter aircraft. NASA developed two models in the late 70’s, and the first flights took place in 1979. Its design team decided to make the craft remotely operated for several reasons. Firstly it would be safer to not have a pilot in the craft. It was also cheaper to build it this way and meant they didn’t have to fit it with an ejection seat. Testing of the experimented aircraft concluded in 1983, and the two that were built remain on display to this day.

3. Vertol VZ-2
Only one of these bulky, odd looking crafts were ever constructed. The United States built the Vertol VZ-2 in 1957 and, like the Bell X-22, it was made to take off and land vertically. The plane was part of a test program that came to an end in 1965, by which time it had amassed 450 flights. Due to its one of a kind status the Vertol VZ-2 was preserved by the National Air and Space Museum.

2. NASA M2-F1
One of the weirdest things you’ll ever see in flight, the M2-F1 was developed by NASA in 1962 to test the wingless lifting body concept. The vehicle was had no means of powering itself so initial testing took place by towing the craft across California’s Rogers Dry Lakebed behind a specially modified Pontiac Catalina convertible. After this, it was towed in midair for further tests by another NASA aircraft, the C-47. The M2-F1 was retired in 1966 and remains on display at Edwards Air Force Base.

1. Flaming Pencil
Seeing as how this aircraft was built to research supersonic speeds it's easy to understand how it got its nickname. The speed of sound had been broken in 1948, but no one fully understood the effects that this great speed would have on a moving craft so the Royal Air Force began building what would become the Bristol 188, or Flaming Pencil in 1954. It would take eight years, but the plane finally achieved flight on April 14, 1962. It would record 51 total flights and in this time would manage a top speed of 1,440 miles per hour at an altitude of 36,000 feet.

Видео 15 Bizarre Experimental Aircraft канала Knowledge Feed