The probability of survival is equal to the angle of arrival.

- Great Aviation Quotes
 

An unusually-configured private aircraft.  This is a representative of the powered-sailplane fraternity.

by Martin Fricke

From the large to the small - with wings, power plants and undercarriages in almost every conceivable position - strangely-configured aircraft have played an important role in pushing the boundaries of aviation knowledge and competence to new ranges of excellence.  Some succeeded, others did not, but all have contributed to the rich tapestry of flight, past and present, ensuring that life for the aviation-minded never becomes boring.

Source: The World's Strangest Aircraft: A Collection of Weird and Wonderful Flying Machines by Michael Taylor

Leduc 0.10 Experimental Ramjet

In thrust I trust.

- Great Aviation Quotes
 

by Austin J Brown

The Leduc made its first powered flight on 21 April 1949 after being air-launched from above on an SE 161 Languedoc airliner.  It is displayed in the Mise'e de l'Air, Paris.  Note the double-skinned fuselage, with the pilot's cockpit contained in the inner module and the outer skin forming the annular duct for the 4,400-pound (2,000 kg) thrust ramjet engine.

Source: The World's Strangest Aircraft: A Collection of Weird and Wonderful Flying Machines by Michael Taylor

Westland P12 Tandem-Wing Beach-Strafing Aircraft

We were once told that the aeroplane had "abolished frontiers."  Actually, it is only since the aeroplane became a serious weapon that frontiers have become definitely impassable.

- George Orwell
 

Interestingly, despite the RAF's warding off a German invasion of Britain in 1940, Britain, like Germany, believed this to be only a temporary postponement, making preparations for the defence of the British Isles still of vital importance.  Among schemes put forward for strafing German forces as they hit British beaches or for striking at supporting surface vessels was the Westland P12, a straight modification of the Lysander army co-operation aircraft.  Initially planned with two 20 mm cannon attached to the fixed undercarriage legs, a redesign led to the rear fuselage being cut short, a tail gun turret added, and the adoption of a new rear-mounted "tandem wing" with endplate fins and rudders for longintudinal stability.  The P12 was first flown on 27 July 1941 and was immediately shown to be highly manoeuvrable.  Sent for official trials, it was never put into production as the perceived threat diminished.

Source: The World's Strangest Aircraft: A Collection of Weird and Wonderful Flying Machines by Michael Taylor

To view other articles related to flying including history, unusual flying machines, hot air balloons, skydiving, gliding, problems, airports, turbulence, pilots, crashes, the Paris Air Show, the future, blimps, space travel, solar sails and more, clicking the "Up" button below takes you to the Table of Contents for this section on Flight.