The relentless pursuit of innovation by the world’s air forces has spawned some of the most advanced and formidable aircraft ever to take to the skies. Not every design that makes it onto paper and pencil becomes famous or even successful. Here, we look at five military aircraft so bizarre they have floated under the public radar.
North American F-82 Twin Mustang The North American F-82 Twin Mustang, easily mistaken for the P-38 Lightning due to its twin fuselages, is an offshoot of the P-51 Mustang design. Conceived towards the end of World War II, this piston-engined fighter was intended as a long-range escort for Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers. Although it missed combat in WWII, it played a pivotal role in the Korean War, being among the first to engage and successfully down North Korean aircraft.
Short SC.7 Skyvan Nicknamed the “Flying Shoebox” due to its box-like shape, the Short SC.7 Skyvan comes into service both in cargo transport and with skydiving. If not exactly handsome, it still flies military duty with the armed forces of Guyana and Oman. Manufactured by Short Brothers between the years 1963 and 1986, only 149 were built, so it’s a curiosity, albeit an odd-looking one in the air.
Dornier Do 28 The Do 28 was a thirteen-seat version of the twin-piston-engined twin boom Utility/Transport built by Dornier and funded by the German government. Later versions of this aircraft developed into both military and civilian service in Europe and Africa. Although ending production in the 1970s, many Do 28s remain in service, notably with the Nigerian Air Force and the Zambian Air Force.
Convair F2Y Sea Dart, The only seaplane jet fighter to break the sound barrier was the Convair F2Y Sea Dart, fitted with hydro-skis for takeoff and landing. Though this very special aircraft never entered mass production, it had five built for the U.S. Navy, the type is one of those great examples of design ingenuity.
Britten-Norman Defender Originating from the Britten-Norman Islander civil transport, the Britten-Norman Defender was adapted for military use by the Royal Air Force. Serving various roles, including action in the second Iraq conflict, the Defender has also supported law enforcement, such as surveillance during the 2012 London Olympics, and has been employed by other nations’ armed forces, including the Philippine Navy and the Royal Cambodian Air Force.
Each of these aircraft was individual in its own right, with specific foibles and abilities that make this a very diverse but often unconventional series of approaches to military aviation design. Although not all of them are household names, how they refined the art of air combat and their nose-turning designs have made sure that their place in history is truly reserved.