Innovation in air forces around the world has never stopped, and from here have been born some of the most advanced and powerful aircraft in history. Not every design, however, that rolls off the drawing board realizes fame or success. Herein, we explore five military aircraft that stand out as strange, some of which might have escaped the public eye.
North American F-82 Twin Mustang: The North American F-82 Twin Mustang, easily confused with the P-38 Lightning because of its twin fuselages, was an offshoot of the P-51 Mustang design. Conceived toward the end of World War II, this piston-engined fighter was meant for long-range escort duties for Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers. Although it did not see combat in WWII, it played a major role in the Korean War, with some of the first engagements and having shot down North Korean aircraft.
Short SC.7 Skyvan: Nicknamed the “Flying Shoebox” because it resembles a box, the Short SC.7 Skyvan serves both in cargo transport and as a skydiving platform. To this day, the aircraft remains in active military service with the armed forces of Guyana and Oman. Produced from 1963 to 1986 by Short Brothers, only 149 were built, so it’s a seldom-seen but distinctive sight in the skies.
Dornier Do 28: The twin-turboprop, designed by Dornier with German government backing, was initially a 13-seat aircraft. It is an aircraft that has evolved through the years and found its place in both military and civilian service in Europe and Africa. While production ended in the 1970s, many Do 28s remain in service, notably in the Nigerian Air Force and the Zambian Air Force.
Convair F2Y Sea Dart: The first and only jet seaplane fighter ever to fly at supersonic speeds was the Convair F2Y Sea Dart, fitted with hydro-skis for takeoff and landing. Only five were made for the U.S. Navy before the project was axed; this rare airplane never went into mass production. The Sea Dart, with its low numbers, epitomized innovation in design.
Britten-Norman Defender: Based on the Britten-Norman Islander civil transport, which the Royal Air Force militarized, it is a multi-role light utility aircraft that has had action in the second Iraq conflict, supported policing, such as surveillance during the 2012 London Olympics, and been used by other nations’ armed forces, including the Philippine Navy and the Royal Cambodian Air Force.
These planes, each with their own set of quirks and capabilities, do a fine job in illustrating the many different ways, at times a bit unconventional, in which military aviation design has been approached. Not all of these aircraft might be household names; however, what they did to further the progress of air fighting and their designs certainly have.