It isn't well known that the famed Messerschmitt Bf 109 of WW2 was trialled with a radial engine...an American radial engine!
The American Messerschmitt…sort of…; Bf-109 V21 and -X
Playlist - Forgotten Aircraft
“A Fun Airplane to Fly Because It Had So Much Wrong with It’ – The Grumman XF10F Jaguar
One of the first attempts to build a fighter with variable geometry sweep wings, the XF10F Jaguar proved spectacularly terrible.
The Ta-Gō – Japan’s Last-Ditch Kamikaze
Facing defeat in WW2, the Japanese resorted to desperate expedients. One of these was the Ta-Gō, the cheapest Kamikaze aircraft possible.
The Ambrosini SS.4 – Italy’s Deadly Duck
Before the Royal Italian Air Force even fielded their final biplane fighter in service, the remarkable Ambrosini SS.4 was prototyping!
The SPAD S.A – A Total Basket Case Without a Prayer
The SPAD S.A’s were an unusual 1915 fighter design, where the observer had a running propeller LITERALLY INCHES FROM HIS BACK!
Swedish Thunderbolt – The Saab JA 37 Viggen
The JA 37 was one of the most formidable fighters of its generation; the most advanced aircraft built in Europe at the time.
Nanchang J-12; China’s First Lightweight Fighter
Many countries tried out light jet fighters. But an often forgotten one is China’s J-12, designed to act as a “guerrilla” aircraft against technologically superior enemies.
The CC&F FDB-1; When People Don’t Want to See the Writing on the Wall
When CC&F decided to build a fighter, they went all out on the latest cutting edge features. Unfortunately, it was a biplane….in 1938….
The Consolidated TBY Sea Wolf – A “When Good Enough Beats Better” Case Study
The Sea Wolf was close to being a possible replacement for the Grumman Avenger. But bad luck and problems leaves it as a “what-if?” aircraft.
Ilyushin Il-20; Beast From the East
The Soviet Air Force really took the armoured attack aircraft – the Shturmovik – to heart. After World War 2, they wanted an improved model. So Ilyushin came up with the Il-20, which was many things, but not a looker.
As Sweet as a Warthog! The Northrop YA-9A
With the A-10 being such an icon, it’s easy to forget that it was nearly pipped at the post by its rival – the Northrop YA-9A
About This Playlist
The Martin Baker MB.5? Westland Wendover? Some of the aircraft here have just faded into history. Some were good planes that just came at the wrong time and so are now barely remembered. And some are just so utterly weird it boggles the mind as to what the designers were thinking!
