World’s Most Interesting Aircrafts and What they Really Cost to Build

The universe of aircrafts is beyond diverse and it’s a remarkable work of engineering history. Flying machines that could lift people or cargo up and transport them long distances in little time changed the way humanity traveled.

In the past couple of decades the technological progress has been groundbreaking. Whether it’s their speed, flight capabilities, or design that makes them stand out, these are the ultimate result of human genius. Take a look at this sample of 30 magnificent aircrafts and get to know the creators and the history of this industry. You’ll be surprised to learn how they changed the game back then and how promising the future is.

Alexander Lippisch’s Aerodyne

First Flight: September 18, 1972
Built by: Dornier Flugzeugwerke, Alexander Lippisch
Status: On Museum Display
Alexander Lippisch was born in 1894 in the German Empire and wanted to dedicate his life to aviation ever since he witnessed Orville and Wilbur Wright conduct flight demonstrations. He joined Zeppelin after WWI where his interest focused on wingless aircrafts.

Conceived by him and built by Dornier, the Aerodyne was a VTOL unmanned aircraft, built for the Federal German Ministry of Defense. It was retired in 1972 because of a lack of government interest.

Vought V-173 “Flying Pancake”

First Flight: November 23, 1942
Built by: Charles H. Zimmerman, Vought Company
Status: Retired
Designed by Charles H. Zimmerman in the 1930s and built by the Vought Company, The Vought V-173 was nicknamed “The Flying Pancake ” for its unusual shape that consisted in wing designs with flat, disk-shaped bodies that served as lifting surfaces.

There were two piston engines buried in the plane’s body, which drove propellers that were located on the wingtips. The V-173 flew its last flight in 1947, after several years of proving Zimmerman’s vertical-takeoff theory correct.

Grumman X-29

First Flight: December 14, 1984
Built by: Northrop Grumman
Status: Retired
The Northrop Grumman X-29 was designed in the early 80s. It tested a brand new concept: canard control surfaces, forward-swept wing and other new aircraft technologies. It was flown by the Air Force and NASA.

The X-29 was famous for its unique, three-surfaced design. The forward-swept swings would experience aeroelastic divergent twisting during flight, so composite materials were used to stabilize that and reduce weight. It flew from 1984 until the project was abandoned in 1991.

Lockheed Martin P-791

First Flight: January 31, 2006
Built by: Lockheed Martin, Straightline Aviation
Status: Still in Development
The Lockheed Martin P-791 is an aerodynamic hybrid and aerostatic airship that was designed in 2006 to be experimental and it’s still in development to this day.

The aircraft has a unique tri-hull shape, it has disk-shaped cushions that serve as landing pads. The majority of the ship’s weight is supported by aerostatic lift, and the rest by aerodynamic lift. The P-791 lost its contract with the US Army to the HAV-3, by Northrop Grumman.