Unique Aeroplanes
I'd put in a vote for the XB-70. Mach 3 bomber, half a million pounds, stainless steel construction, variable geometry - all in the early 1960's. It also looks awesome...
Not quite a one-off since they built two, but only one survives today.
Not quite a one-off since they built two, but only one survives today.
Gentleman Aviator
DH106
I think you'll find the word is pedantry. (See what I did there!!)
can we move on from the pedanticism?
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Oh, you can add the Pilatus P4 to the list.... It morphed into the rather better known Pilatus PC6 Porter, later Turbo Porter.
Last edited by Planemike; 23rd Mar 2022 at 00:01.
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The Westland Wendover would appear to meet the criteria....never heard of it until fairly recently, so looked it up. ...of the first two words that sprung to mind, only me can be repeated.
The Wendover looks like the result of a Lysander accidentally ending up on a Lancaster production line! 
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I could mention the Vickers Windsor.
A 4 engined bomber with Geodetic construction powered by Merlins; three built; assembled at Foxwarren near Brooklands but then disassembled and moved to Farnborough for test flying.
Had to have 4 mainwheels because the wings drooped when on the ground; notable for its pressurised crew compartments and remote controlled guns called 'barbettes' at the rear of each outboard nacelle. First one flew Oct 1943, followed by the second in Feb 1944 and third in Jul 1944. Development curtailed as the Lancaster was in full production and the end of the war was in sight.
Then there was the CMC Leopard lightweight bizjet. 2 built with twin jet engines and designed to carry a pilot and 3 passengers. Prototype first flew in 1988 followed by the second with more powerful engines in early 1997.
Project cancelled on the death of the designer, Ian Chichester Miles, in 2009.
A 4 engined bomber with Geodetic construction powered by Merlins; three built; assembled at Foxwarren near Brooklands but then disassembled and moved to Farnborough for test flying.
Had to have 4 mainwheels because the wings drooped when on the ground; notable for its pressurised crew compartments and remote controlled guns called 'barbettes' at the rear of each outboard nacelle. First one flew Oct 1943, followed by the second in Feb 1944 and third in Jul 1944. Development curtailed as the Lancaster was in full production and the end of the war was in sight.
Then there was the CMC Leopard lightweight bizjet. 2 built with twin jet engines and designed to carry a pilot and 3 passengers. Prototype first flew in 1988 followed by the second with more powerful engines in early 1997.
Project cancelled on the death of the designer, Ian Chichester Miles, in 2009.
Last edited by chevvron; 23rd Mar 2022 at 10:01.
There was also the HP115 'slim' delta designed for swept wing research. Used piston Provost undercarriage legs, one of which decided to collapse on landing one day at Bedford; the runway controller (temporarily on detachment from Farnborough) told me he watched as the aircraft described a circle around his vantage point.
Truly "unique" as I believe only one example built was the Douglas DC4E.
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