Military aviation has consistently been a proving ground for wacky innovations—some of which changed the face of the skies, and others that flamed out as cautionary examples of ambition over practicality. Over the centuries, designers have experimented with the limits of aeronautical design, consistently designing planes that resembled science fiction more than weapons of war.
Below are five of the strangest fighter jet designs to ever emerge from the drawing board, listed in order from peculiar to utterly outrageous.
5. Rockwell HiMAT – The Future Remote-Controlled Rocket
In the late ’70s and early ’80s, the U.S. went whole hog into high-agility research with the Rockwell HiMAT (Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology). Unlike anything that had been fielded previously, this jet wasn’t piloted by someone in the cockpit—it was all remote-controlled, sometimes taking a crew of five just to keep a single flight under control.
Designed to challenge extreme maneuverability and state-of-the-art control systems, the HiMAT was able to reach almost supersonic velocities and withstand tight 8G turns due to its delta wing configuration and advanced technology. It never saw battle (nor was it ever intended to), but the knowledge gained influenced the future of unmanned and responsive aircraft. It was retired in 1989 after a decade of testing.
4. Horten Ho 229 – The WWII Flying Wing That Looked Like Stealth
Decades ahead of its time, the Horten Ho 229, also known as the Gotha Go 229, was a radical World War II German prototype that looked more alien spacecraft than a wartime fighter. Its sleek, tailless flying wing design minimized drag and radar visibility, making it a spiritual predecessor to today’s stealth bombers.
Conceived by visionary Horten brothers, the Ho 229 flew for the first time in 1945. Though full of promise, the war broke out before it could be properly developed and implemented in combat. Only a handful were constructed, but the plane is an aviation icon for its daring leap forward.
3. Vought V-173 “Flying Pancake” – A Disc That Defied Logic
If there were a prize for the most literal of nicknames, the Vought V-173 would take it. Dubbed the “Flying Pancake” and built in the 1940s, it had a quirky disc-shaped wing that was as wide as it was strange. The plan was to build an aircraft that could take off and land in cramped quarters yet remain somewhat maneuverable.
It did, kind of. The V-173 had good low-speed performance but was short on speed, which put limits on its usefulness as a combat fighter. It never progressed beyond testing, but its legacy continued in the equally short-lived XF5U-1.
2. Northrop XP-79 – The Jet Designed to Ram Bombers
Perhaps the most perilous concept ever seriously contemplated, the Northrop XP-79 was constructed in 1945 with a singular goal: to crash into enemy bombers and shoot them down in midair. Yes, actually. This airplane, known as the “Flying Ram,” was fashioned with magnesium alloy wings designed to cut targets in half. Not surprisingly, the concept included significant dangers, particularly for the pilot.
Tragedy befell it during its first test flight, which concluded in a fatal crash. The XP-79 project was rapidly put on the back burner, but it is still the most extreme manifestation of wartime desperation and inventive fervor.
1. Nord 1500 Griffon – France’s Wild Mach 2 Ramjet Experiment
At the top of the list is a marvelous creation: the Nord 1500 Griffon. Conceived in 1950s French aerospace hubris, this Mach 2 interceptor was half fighter, half rocket, and completely bizarre. It used a turbojet for takeoff, supplemented by a ramjet for its high-speed cruise—two engines that were forced to share the load, even though their power curves were vastly different. Throw in a canard design (with tiny front wings) and an arrowhead delta wing, and you have one of the most futuristic forms ever to fly.
While it achieved Mach 2.19 and held a speed record briefly, the Griffon was too complex and costly to be used on a large scale.
The simpler, more efficient Mirage III was chosen by the French Air Force. Two Griffons were produced, and one now sits in the French Air and Space Museum, a shining testament to just how far innovation can be pushed before it breaks.
Flying on the Edge of Logic
Whatever all these planes share isn’t merely unusual engineering or splashy designs—it’s that they flew. These weren’t canceled blueprints or sketches on a napkin. All of them made it into the air, and what it shows is that sometimes the craziest concepts are worth attempting—even when they don’t always land.
Whether they spawned breakthrough technology or dissipated into footnotes, these bizarre jets stand as a testament to human ingenuity and the age-old pursuit of air supremacy.