Unusual aircraft of the day is the Payen PA 49B “Katy”.
Designed by Frenchman Nicolas Roland Payen, who was an early delta wing and canard proponent (see his pre-war PA 22, which the Germans had a keen interest in).
It flew in 1954 and is now preserved at the Museum of the Air and the Space of Le Bourget.
Here is a link to some drawings of other Payen designs, its well worth a visit.
A note on the Horten brothers.
The Horten Ho 229 V3 prototype is currently “rusting” away at the Smithsonian’s Garber restoration facility.
A great shame for aviation history.
Dreams of flight, or nightmare of budgeting.
This particular little bird (DuPont Aerospace DP-2) spend 21 years in development and $63 million in funding, before it finally dawned on people, that it couldn’t fly.
The plane, designed to take off like a helicopter and then fly at high speed, failed to remain in the air for more than a few seconds in 49 separate tests.
Here is a great quote regarding the DP-2.
“”The good news is that when it crashes, it only crashed from a foot or two off the ground,” said subcommittee Chairman Brad Miller, D-N.C..”
Best thing was that Pentagon analysts had rejected the idea from day one. I guess Mr DuPont had some old collage buddies somewhere in the administration.
And a video link (might be the one that kept the bucks flowing).
Aircraft to go.
Developed by Boeing in competition with the Cessna Model 305 (later known as L-19 Bird Dog). The YL-15 Scout proved to be just a bit too unconventional for the US army.
As seen on the picture, the YL-15 could be disassembled and transported on any standard 2 ½-ton Army truck. Presumably as a cheap substitute for a helicopter.
I love the way that they clearly state it belongs to the army GROUND forces…..DUH!
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