Most people are aware that the Wright brothers championed aviation and flight for humanity. This wasn’t a one-off success story for the gentlemen, however, as there were plenty of wonky designs which crash landed before the brothers achieved their soaring success. The Wright brothers’ efforts are just one example of a collection of failed aircraft designs, with the 50s and 60s being especially rife with silly aeronautical disasters. Let’s talk about some of the maddest ideas which failed to take off!
The Fisher P-75 Eagle
The Fisher P75 Eagle
The design of this plane was met with unanimous optimism. It was supposed to signify victory, the number 75 being borrowed from a French 75-mm gun which turned the tides of World War I. As for the “Eagle” part, this bird is synonymous with the United States. The plane borrowed various aspects from a variety of other already existing crafts, mixing them all together to create the Fisher. Sadly, this plane performed way under the standards of the planes it cannibalized.
The Douglas DC-10
The Douglas DC-10 was not a disaster, it was a tragedy. Its career in the air led to fifty-five crashes which caused numerous fatalities. The doors which swung out externally rather than internally were almost impossible to be shut correctly. One particular operation in 1972 saw the doors blasting open while the plane was sky-high, occurring once more in 1974. During 1979, a failed takeoff resulted in a wing of the Douglas falling off! Thankfully, this plane has been redesigned from the ground up for safer design and usage.
The Douglas DC10
