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Originally Posted by Jhieminga
(Post 11204399)
I read an article a long, long time ago that explained the thought process that led Burt Rutan to come up with this configuration. I think it started with a generic Beechcraft Baron and then discussed the different issues inherent in that design (or any typical light twin) and how the Boomerang configuration solved that. I wish I could find that article.
rutanboomerang.com and click 'Design' -- I can't post links as a new user. Definitely quite interesting. I'd think the Boomerang is the most unique civilian light aircraft at least. re. the pedantry -- every plane is unique in some way -- "only 737 to be completed at 2:14pm on a Tuesday". A plane can be more or less unique depending on the significance of the categories it's unique in. Surely the Caproni Ca. 60 has to be the most unique, just look at the thing... A related question might be the most useful/significant one-of-a-kind plane, perhaps the late An-225? |
Originally Posted by chevvron
(Post 11204469)
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.
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Originally Posted by chevvron
(Post 11204296)
I flew the prototype at Farnborough with Angus McVitie; landed it too!!
I did a week's course at Cranfield in the mid-80's as part of my degree, and I'm sure Angus flew the Jetstream sorties that were part of the course. |
Originally Posted by meleagertoo
(Post 11204647)
What really is unique here is the hilarious misuse of the simple word "unique".
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Originally Posted by Shackman
(Post 11204638)
Surely there is only one 'unique' aircraft - The Wright Flyer. Everything else is a descendant.
That would be "powered aircraft" </pedantically pedantic> |
I42 beat me to the Wendover, so ladies and gentlemen I give you The Hillson FH.40 ..... AKA The Slip Wing Hurricane
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Originally Posted by Krystal n chips
(Post 11204416)
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.
How about the Percival P.74 helicopter? The only helicopter Percival built, and it refused point-blank to even lift off the ground, let alone fly. |
I give you The Hillson FH.40 ..... AKA The Slip Wing Hurricane |
Originally Posted by Sue Vêtements
(Post 11204773)
which leads to that Russian one that could fly as either a monoplane OR a Biplane
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Originally Posted by DHfan
(Post 11204741)
I knew of the aircraft but I'd never heard that name for it.
How about the Percival P.74 helicopter? The only helicopter Percival built, and it refused point-blank to even lift off the ground, let alone fly. And they are not very unique. |
IIRC we never figured out what this was in "What aeroplane " so pretty unique!
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1e78ebe50.jpeg |
Originally Posted by Asturias56
(Post 11204974)
IIRC we never figured out what this was in "What aeroplane " so pretty unique!
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If I may follow the somewhat broader definition, Henri Mignet's Flying Flea is certainly some kind of unique - at least in concept and design; probably some other variation of unique in its flying characteristics. I knew a bloke once who had one. He claimed it was OK so long as you understood it (whatever that meant - he didn't expand and I didn't ask). Quite sad that he died (reportedly of a heart attack) whilst enjoying one of his local flying outings in the aircraft. I guess that's sort of unique too - in the saddest sense.
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(deleted)
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Originally Posted by Asturias56
(Post 11204974)
IIRC we never figured out what this was in "What aeroplane " so pretty unique!
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1e78ebe50.jpeg |
Originally Posted by Self loading bear
(Post 11204855)
Machines that didn’t fly are called a “try”
And they are not very unique. |
The Slingsby V-Liner would have been a serious contender!
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I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the XF-85 Goblin
Fairly unique that it was launched from another aircraft, but then again so were Bell XB1 and the X15 ... but ... the Goblin had the distinction of also "landing" on another aircraft! |
I presume the Brittany Ferries Cri Cri never attempted to land back on its Broussard mothership? I would certainly assume too great a risk.
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Originally Posted by Asturias56
(Post 11204974)
IIRC we never figured out what this was in "What aeroplane " so pretty unique!
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1e78ebe50.jpeg |
The Pander S.4 postjager: Pander S-4 Postjager - Wikipedia
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Originally Posted by Planemike
(Post 11203223)
Herod..... Apologies for being a pedant. You cannot qualify the word "unique" i.e. "most unique" is incorrect. Unique means, one off, on its own, alone. If there is more than one it is NOT unique, less than one means it is only part of one: incomplete.
When it comes to aircraft types there are some obvious examples of truly (hey, fell into the trap myself !!!) unique examples. Spruce Goose would certainly qualify, as would the Reid & Sigrist Desford. Then there will be some that are unique, in that they have a "one off" engine installation but there will be other airframes with different engines. Sometimes a particular Mark of a design will be a "one off, unique". The de Havilland 106 Comet 3 was unique but of course there were others Comets of different Mks.... While we are on de Havilland aircraft, the deH 81 Swallow Moth & deH 92 Dolphin were both unique. |
This whole unique discussion is a little silly.
Even a one off aero plane is not unique because as soon as it becomes airborne it flies just like any other aero plane. Even the ones that have never flown are not unique as there are many other ones that have never flown. Now what did I win? |
B2N2. I agree with the silly comment. I was asked this question by a young lad, and posted it here for fun, expecting interesting replies. What I got was the grammar police.
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"The Diamond DA-22 prototype."
I don't think so - the "What Aircraft" forum had to abandon this when it was a challenge - looks nothing like the Diamond - IIRC it was photographed in France at a show https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....43cf11a24.jpeg |
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