Have you ever gazed at a military plane and wondered, “How in the world did this thing even get airborne?” You’re not alone. The history of aviation is riddled with designs that defy engineering—and sometimes sanity. From bizarre shapes to reckless experiments, these 10 military planes demonstrate that innovation is often packaged in sheer strangeness. Let’s take a look at some of the weirdest warbirds ever built.
10. Kyushu J7W “Shinden”
In World War II, Japan came up with the J7W Shinden, a fighter that seemed to be straight out of a science fiction movie. Its canard design, rear-mounted propeller, and radically swept wings made it a deadly machine capable of shooting down high-flying American bombers. Only prototypes were completed when the war ended, but its space-age appearance intrigues aviation enthusiasts even today.
9. PZL M-15 “Belphegor”
Poland’s PZL M-15 is the sole mass-produced jet-powered biplane. Constructed in the 1970s for use in agriculture under Soviet pressure, this bulky little plane was unlike any other. Its shrieking engine and unusual shape relegated it to one of the weirdest aircraft ever to fly over Eastern European farmland.
8. Blohm & Voss BV 141
Germany’s BV 141 disregarded symmetry completely. Built for scouting purposes, its cockpit rested on one side while the engine resided on the other. It did not look smooth or balanced, but it actually flew quite well. It never entered mass production, but today, there are still a lot of people who wonder about this unusual aircraft design.
7. Northrop XP-79 “Flying Ram”
The XP-79 was a daring, if risky, World War II concept: a bomber-designed plane intended to literally collide with enemy bombers. It had leading edges strengthened with armor plate and a prone-pilot cockpit, designed to withstand impact. Unfortunately, the initial test flight was disastrous, claiming the life of its courageous pilot.
6. Vought V-173 “Flying Pancake”
Round, pancake-flat, and in a way, endearing, the V-173 tested a radical design to provide lift. With dual propellers and a disk-shaped body, pilots had to get used to its peculiar flight. Its successor, the XF5U, was so sturdy that engineers ultimately had to demolish it with a wrecking ball when the program ended.
5. McDonnell XF-85 “Goblin”
The Goblin was a small jet to be carried on a B-36 bomber and deployed mid-air to destroy enemy planes. It was a “parasite fighter,” however, which had difficulty mating with its mother plane and never progressed beyond a series of test flights. Its bizarre idea is among aviation history’s strangest experiments.
4. Horten Ho 229A
Made in Germany during World War II, the Ho 229A was a flying wing powered by a jet that would avoid radar years before stealth was a concept. With no tail and engines embedded in its wings, it set the stage for today’s stealth planes.
3. Convair XFY-1 “Pogo”
The XFY-1 Pogo was a daring vertical takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft. The aircraft was capable of launching vertically like a rocket and flying forward as a conventional plane. Landing was a terror: pilots would have to descend tail-first, pointing backward. Though the program was canceled, it paved the way for VTOL aircraft development.
2. Northrop Tacit Blue “Whale”
Tacit Blue gained nicknames such as “Whale” and “Alien School Bus” due to its odd shape. Developed to experiment with stealth technology, it inspired designs that created the B-2 bomber. It may not have been handsome, but it was instrumental in today’s spy planes.
1. Convair F2Y Sea Dart
Lastly, the Sea Dart was a supersonic jet fighter that launched and landed from water on hydro-skis. It’s the only seaplane ever to have broken the sound barrier. Its test flights were dramatic, but operational problems and hazardous crashes killed the program. Still, it’s one of aviation’s most creative conceptions.
From UFO-shaped planes to totally impractical aircraft, these planes might not have altered the history of war, but they attest to one fact: the designers of planes aren’t afraid to have big dreams—even if they look a bit weird.