The Lockheed XFV-1 Salmon
Halfway through the 20th century, the American army became highly creative with its concepts, supported with a titanic budget which allowed for some of these novel ideas to come to life. The Salmon’s trick was that it could take off vertically, as well as landing vertically, which then resulted in the engine collapsing and the plane being ruined. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
The Lockheed XFV1 Salmon
The Grumman X-29
The American Airforce acquired the Grumman X-29 somewhere around the 80s. The forward-facing wings became a supposed way to improve its aerodynamic qualities and provide a slick appearance. Ironically, all these touches did was prohibit the X-29 from being able to fly correctly. You’d expect that a combination of NASA, Air Force, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Grumman efforts that this would be the ultimate aircraft. It wasn’t, and it was unflyable unless an astronomical computer accompanied it to virtually control it.
The Grumman X29
