From the start, the history of the world’s air forces is the history of relentless exuberant innovation, tending to perfect some new technology or design sleight to outmatch their rivals in the never-ending quest to secure a tactical edge in aerial combat. Quite a few concepts made it through the drawing board but didn’t become a household name or a roaring success. Here are five that most would find unbelievable had ever been built.
North American F-82 Twin Mustang Although from a distance it could almost be mistaken for a P-38 Lightning, its twin fuselages quickly turn the North American F-82 Twin Mustang into something of an optical illusion. Developed out of the P-51 Mustang design in the years leading toward the end of World War II, this piston-engine fighter was designed to perform as a long-range escort to Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers. The Twin Mustang came to be noticed during the Korean War, even though it had missed World War II, as it became one of the first U.S. aircraft to engage and down North Korean planes.
Short SC.7 Skyvan: This aircraft, known most popularly as the “Flying Shoebox,” was so christened because of its squarish looks. The Short SC.7 Skyvan has performed many jobs in its lifetime, from short-haul freight to skydiving operations, but it remains an active player in the Guyana military. Manufactured by Short Brothers in Belfast, Northern Ireland, from 1963-1986, there are only 149 units of this unique aircraft type ever produced, making it a rare sight in the skies.
Dornier Do 28 Originally envisioned as a government-funded design for a thirteen-passenger type, the Dornier Do 28 has gone on to find its place with military and civilian operators around the world and throughout the continents of Europe and Africa. While most from the early 1960s and 70s have now been retired, a few still fly actively with the Nigerian Air Force and the Zambian Air Force.
Convair F2Y Sea Dart The Convair F2Y Sea Dart is a very unique seaplane fighter jet. It uses hydro-skis for takeoff and landing. Although it was never mass-produced, and just five went to the United States Navy, the Sea Dart remains one of the quickest aircraft, and the only seaplane supersonic.
Britten-Norman Defender Evolved from the Britten-Norman Islander civil transport aircraft, the Defender was developed into a multirole utility airplane for the Royal Air Force. It has served in operations covering the Second Iraq War and, as part of police work, it was drafted for surveillance duties during the 2012 London Summer Olympics. The multi-role utility airplane Defender is also in service outside of the UK.
These aircraft, each endowed with its idiosyncratic characteristic features, symbolize the innovative spirit and the diversity of needs that military aviation comes through. They may not all be very famous, but definitely, their contributions to the advancement of air warfare and the unique shapes they came in surely stamp them in the annals of aviation.