Over the last century or so, there have been numerous attempts and experiments in the aviation industry that have led the world to the cargo and passenger aircraft we have today. Some of these experiments lead to advancements in science, some were outright dangerous, but many had unique appearances. Here is a compilation of five of the most unique looking aircraft ever made.
5) Lockheed XFV-1 “Salmon”
The Lockheed XFV-1 was an experimental design made for the US Navy in order to test VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) aircraft in the 1950s. Unlike most aircraft, the XFV-1 stood on its tail for direct vertical take-offs and was propelled by a pair of three-bladed propellers. According to Fiddlers Green, the XFV-1 had its first official flight in 1954, but they never managed to conduct any VTOL flights, as a more powerful engine was required. Therefore, the aircraft was discontinued and is now on display in the Sun ‘n Fun Campus Museum in Florida.
Engine: 1 Allison YT40-A-6 turboprop engine.
Top Speed: 580 mph
Maximum Altitude: 15,000 feet
4) Grunman X-29
Visually, this aircraft looks like someone put the wings of a normal plane backwards. However, this was done intentionally, as NASA created the Grunman X-29 for experimental research. They were exploring the concept that having forward swept wings – as the Grunman X-29 did – gave pilots more control over the plane when flying at a 45 degree angle. The unusual looking aircraft was primarily used to improve efficiency and control of fighter jets before and during the Second World War, and was retired once research was completed in 1992 and was put on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in 1994.
Engine: General Electric F404 turbofan engine producing 16,000 lbs. of thrust
Top Speed: 1,200 mph
Maximum Altitude: 55,000 feet
3) Bartini Beriev VVA 14
Created in the 1970s by the Soviet Union to combat the threat of undersea nuclear missile strikes, this unique looking aircraft was designed to take off vertically from land or water. It was designed with anti-submarine equipment on board and looked like a mashup between an aquatic machine and a plane. The aircraft weighed a whopping 51,227 lbs. and had a wingspan of 98 feet, but, according to War History Online, it was still expected to take off vertically from almost any surface. The VVA-14 only flew for a total of 100 hours before the project was discontinued due to multiple miscalculations and problems with the aircraft. One remaining prototype is still on display at the Central Air Force Museum on Moscow.
Engine: 12 Rybinsk RD-36-35PR turbofans (for vertical takeoff) and 2 Soloviev D-30M turbofans (producing thrust)
Top Speed: 470 mph
Maximum Altitude: 25,000-30,000 feet
2) Caproni CA-60
The CA-60 was designed to take up to 100 passengers across the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea in the early 1920s. The aircraft was one of the most unique looking ones ever made, as it was built with 9 wings built in sets of 3 along its body, each having a wingspan of 30 meters. Unfortunately, during the maiden flight of the CA-60, the pilot lost control as one of the 9 wings hit the surface of Lake Maggiore. This caused the plane to crash, and it sustained more damage during operation and reconstruction. There were only 3 people on board and thankfully, none were injured. However, the plane was deemed beyond repair, and the Caproni CA-60 never flew again.
Engine: 8 Liberty L-12’s, producing 400 horsepower to propel the aircraft
Top Speed: 87 mph
Maximum Altitude: It reached 60 feet before the plane crashed
1) Boeing 377GP “Pregnant Guppy” or “Super Guppy”
One of the most unique looking aircraft ever made, the Boeing 377GP looks like a pregnant guppy fish, hence the nickname “Pregnant Guppy”. Boeing built this large cargo airliner for NASA to transport their oversized cargo across the globe. The “Pregnant Guppy” was first used during the NASA Apollo missions, where they would transport parts for rockets using it. The new “Super Guppy” has a large inner diameter of 25 by 111 feet. It has a unique nose that opens 110 degrees outward, allowing for easier access to load large cargo inside. There is only one Super Guppy at NASA currently, with the rest on display in museums across the world.
Engine: 4 Allison 501-D22C turboprop engines
Top Speed: 250 mph
Maximum Altitude: 25,000 feet
Do you know any other aircraft that we should’ve included? Let us know in the comments below!
Those planes were old
Review your title, something is unique or it ain’t. Can’t be “most unique.”
“Most unique” indeed would be a forward swept winged jet-powered craft we tested “before and during the second world war” since the aircraft never flew until 1984. ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_X-29
There’s no “very” or “most” with unique. The word is an absolute adjective, meaning it should not be quantified. This is lazy writing.
The Salmon had a similar-looking Convair rival. For uniqueness, what about the Transavia PL-12 Airtruk cropduster, the asymmetric Blohm und Voss BV141, or the Mil V-12, with its wingtip-mounted rotors and engines and double-decker cockpits? Those are just off the top of my head…
It a GruMMan x-29, not a Grunman
Some years ago, as I flew my Cherokee into El Paso, I saw the Guppy on the apron. It’s as weird in person as in photos.
You need to improve your research
It’s the Grumman X29, not Grunman and as for “The unusual looking aircraft was primarily used to improve efficiency and control of fighter jets before and during the Second World War” this is abject nonsense. It first flew in 1984, nearly 40 years AFTER the second world war.
Whilst some combat aircraft utilised jet engines set the very end of WW2, they only became the principle form of propulsion for fighter and interceptor aircraft in the late 40’s and early 50’s.
You might want to go hand back that degree.