Mriya means "dream" in Ukranian. And in the case of this plane, someone really dreamed big. It's a gross understatement to simply say that the An-225 is big because the truth is, this plane is giant, and is actually known as the longest and heaviest plane ever built (no joke, it really is that huge!). Further, the [...]
If my five-year-old self could’ve designed an airplane, it may have looked a lot like Alexander Lippisch’s Aerodyne. Lippisch – for the uninitiated – was a German engineer who was fundamental to the modern aircraft designs we see in use today. Lippisch was a phenomenal inventor and an incredible engineer. His most popular craft is [...]
The XF-85 Goblin by McDonnell Aircraft is without a doubt a crazy-looking contraption. If we're being completely honest here, it's hard to imagine something like this would even be physically able to fly--at least not outside of animated children's television, or something. As with many of the most aesthetically-diverse planes in existence (including some featured [...]
The "Flying Pancake" Breakfast might be the most important meal of the day, but it's got nothing on the "sweet factor" of experimental aircraft. In other words: in a world of cold breakfast cereals, be a pancake. Charles H. Zimmerman believed in pancakes, or at least it appears that way. As a researcher at Langley Memorial Aeronautic Laboratory, [...]
Let it be said: every pilot knows all too well the name of Howard Hughes. In a time when the long-running, American trend of neglecting the notion of a singular job title was beginning to catch momentum, Howard Hughes was world-famous aviator, aerospace engineer, entrepreneur, filmmaker, and philanthropist. As a man who represented extreme wealth [...]
. Extra EA-300L in flight Top speed: 213 mph Length: 22’9 1/2" Wingspan: 24’3" Height: 8' 7 1/4 " Empty Weight: Appox. 1,500 lbs Loadded Weight: 2095 lbs Capacity: 2 People First flight: May 1988 Introduction: 1987 Production: 1988-Current Powerplant: Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5 Extra EA-300 The Extra EA-300 is an aerobatic monoplane made of an aluminum and fabric covered steel [...]
Boeing B-17E. (U.S. Air Force photo) Top speed: 287 mph Length: 74’ Wingspan: 104’0’ First flight: 28 July 1935 Introduction: April 1938 Production: 1936-1945 Retired: 1968 (Brazilian Air Force) "Flying Fortress" The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a four-engine heavy bomber, was built in response to a competition put forth by the U.S. Army [...]
