Little known / experimental aircraft

[Randy Daytona]

Finally airborne. Congrats to the Paul Allen crew.

The world's largest plane just flew for the first time

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/13/business/stratolaunch-worlds-largest-plane/index.html

https://www.theverge.com/transporta...-worlds-biggest-airplane-first-flight-rockets

 

[Jim123]

I wonder how fast you rotate on takeoff in that... 1° per second for fifteen seconds or something?

 

[xj220]

That’s awesome it flew. I’d really like to see their flutter analysis though and testing.

 

[Austin-Powers]

Kerbal Space Program?

 

[Griz882]

So, is it two pilots in the left fuselage and two co-pilots in the right?

 

[Randy Daytona]

Was looking at some of the paintings on www.artbywayne.net and an unusual airplane caught my eye. Turned out to be the Vought XF5U - the "Flying Flapjack". Very interesting design with a projected speed of 477 knots at 28,000 ft but with the ability to fly quite slow, it was overtaken by jets. The propellers had a flapping design similar to helicopter main rotors and the position of the propeller blades at the tips counteracted the induced drag. Perhaps some of the test pilots here want to contribute some thoughts.

Vought XF5U - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Randy Daytona]

Anyone have thoughts on this: Celera 500L. A 22 to 1 glide ratio, pusher prop and diesel engine? The performance - claimed - is remarkable.

Otto Aviation’s Celera 500L Completes 31 Successful Flights - FLYING Magazine

Just because Otto Aviation’s elongated egg-shaped Celera 500L looks nothing like any airplane you’ve ever seen before is no reason to scoff. Otto Aviation, the brain child of an actual rocket scientist, William Otto, says the 500L could well become the most fuel-efficient commercially viable...

www.flyingmag.com

 

[Griz882]

Anyone have thoughts on this: Celera 500L. A 22 to 1 glide ratio, pusher prop and diesel engine? The performance - claimed - is remarkable.

Otto Aviation’s Celera 500L Completes 31 Successful Flights - FLYING Magazine

Just because Otto Aviation’s elongated egg-shaped Celera 500L looks nothing like any airplane you’ve ever seen before is no reason to scoff. Otto Aviation, the brain child of an actual rocket scientist, William Otto, says the 500L could well become the most fuel-efficient commercially viable...

www.flyingmag.com

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I’m going to give it a down but only because I don’t fly to get places, I fly to see things.

 

[Jim123]

The big question is whether the powerplant can deliver the necessary power at 50-60,000 feet and do it with reasonable fuel efficiency.

The airframe looks right enough to deliver that impressive L. They're advertising it as a safety thing (of course) but I think it's even more important because that efficiency will allow the airplane to get up really high.

There's also an article about it in the Technicalities column in this month's Flying magazine, but unless you're a paid subscriber then you'll have to wait another month or two before it's released to the free version of the website.

 

[jmcquate]

I'd feel safer it it had a turboprop or twin recips.

 

[Pags]

Anyone have thoughts on this: Celera 500L. A 22 to 1 glide ratio, pusher prop and diesel engine? The performance - claimed - is remarkable.

Otto Aviation’s Celera 500L Completes 31 Successful Flights - FLYING Magazine

Just because Otto Aviation’s elongated egg-shaped Celera 500L looks nothing like any airplane you’ve ever seen before is no reason to scoff. Otto Aviation, the brain child of an actual rocket scientist, William Otto, says the 500L could well become the most fuel-efficient commercially viable...

www.flyingmag.com

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Looks like somebody brushed up the plans for an XP-56 for the 21st century.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Anyone have thoughts on this: Celera 500L. A 22 to 1 glide ratio, pusher prop and diesel engine? The performance - claimed - is remarkable.

Otto Aviation’s Celera 500L Completes 31 Successful Flights - FLYING Magazine

Just because Otto Aviation’s elongated egg-shaped Celera 500L looks nothing like any airplane you’ve ever seen before is no reason to scoff. Otto Aviation, the brain child of an actual rocket scientist, William Otto, says the 500L could well become the most fuel-efficient commercially viable...

www.flyingmag.com

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View attachment 28471

On a couple of aviation websites, this aircraft is being referred to as the flying butt plug.

The manufacturer is claiming there will be an electric engine version too. So vibrating...

 

[Jim123]

Electric razor 9 times out of 10.

 

[johnboyA6E]

the one that would have kept the VA squadrons in business....

 

[Hair Warrior]

^ nice triangle

Are we including hoax aircraft in our thread? If so, TR-3A Black Manta and TR-3B Astra.