Over the years, the air forces of the world have not stopped innovating, hence producing some of the most technologically advanced and feared planes in history. Needless to say, not all designs that come out of the drawing board become famous or successful. Herein, we explore five unusual military aircraft that ever graced the skies, and maybe some have eluded the public eye.
The North American F-82 Twin Mustang is easily confused with the P-38 Lighting due to its twin fuselage, but it came as a spin-off of the P-51 Mustang design. It was conceived at the tail end of World War II as a piston-engined fighter to escort Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers. Although it did not fight in WWII, it played its role in the Korean War, becoming one of the first ones to engage, thus managing to shoot down North Korean aircraft.
Short SC.7 Skyvan Probably nicknamed “Flying Shoebox” for its boxy appearance, this freight hauler and skydiving platform is still in active military service with the armed forces of Guyana and Oman. Manufactured between 1963 and 1986 by Short Brothers, it is an unusual but unmistakable sight in the air, with only 149 examples built.
Dornier Do 28 Developed by Dornier with support from the German government, the 13-seat Dornier Do 28 had been another. Through the years, it has evolved to suit many other functions and is in service with military and civilian operators in both Europe and Africa. While production ended in the late 1970s, many more Do 28s remain in service, primarily in the Nigerian Air Force and the Zambian Air Force.
Convair F2Y Sea Dart—The only seaplane jet fighter to have ever broken the sound barrier, the Convair F2Y Sea Dart was an experimental plane fitted with hydro-skis for takeoff and landing. The aircraft never went into mass production; the U.S. Navy ordered five. Nevertheless, it was an outstanding achievement in aeronautical design.
Britten-Norman Defender The Britten-Norman Defender was militarized from the Britten-Norman Islander civil transport for use by the Royal Air Force. It fulfilled several tasks, including being deployed during the second Iraq conflict. The Defender also provided support to the police in tasks such as reconnaissance at the 2012 London Olympics and was exported to other countries’ military forces, which included the Philippine Navy and the Royal Cambodian Air Force.
These aircraft represent a spigot of peculiarities and capabilities that underpin some of the varied and sometimes bizarre military aviation designs in existence. Although not all of them may be immediately recognizable in a naming exercise, their contributions toward the evolution of air combat and unmistakable design secure them a place within the annals of aviation history.