Captain Pete
@capt-pete.bsky.social
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The first prototype is on display at the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton, Ohio while the second is under restoration at the US Army Transportation Museum in Ft. Eustis, Virginia.
December 4, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The first prototype is on display at the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton, Ohio while the second is under restoration at the US Army Transportation Museum in Ft. Eustis, Virginia.
What happened to the aircraft?
The prototypes logged about 75 flight hours by the end of flight tests in 1961 when funding ran out. Because the U.S. military had paid for the work, they reverted to U.S. ownership at the end of the program.
The prototypes logged about 75 flight hours by the end of flight tests in 1961 when funding ran out. Because the U.S. military had paid for the work, they reverted to U.S. ownership at the end of the program.
December 4, 2025 at 5:29 PM
What happened to the aircraft?
The prototypes logged about 75 flight hours by the end of flight tests in 1961 when funding ran out. Because the U.S. military had paid for the work, they reverted to U.S. ownership at the end of the program.
The prototypes logged about 75 flight hours by the end of flight tests in 1961 when funding ran out. Because the U.S. military had paid for the work, they reverted to U.S. ownership at the end of the program.
Additional Insights:
The project begin its life in Canada in 1952 but the US Army took an interest after Canadian government money ran out. The US Army helped fund 2 prototypes for flight tests in 1959 for a total cost of $10 million dollars.
The project begin its life in Canada in 1952 but the US Army took an interest after Canadian government money ran out. The US Army helped fund 2 prototypes for flight tests in 1959 for a total cost of $10 million dollars.
December 4, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Additional Insights:
The project begin its life in Canada in 1952 but the US Army took an interest after Canadian government money ran out. The US Army helped fund 2 prototypes for flight tests in 1959 for a total cost of $10 million dollars.
The project begin its life in Canada in 1952 but the US Army took an interest after Canadian government money ran out. The US Army helped fund 2 prototypes for flight tests in 1959 for a total cost of $10 million dollars.
Flaws:
NASA wind tunnel tests confirmed the Avrocar's inherent instability. Despite developing an electromechanical stabilization system, the Avrocar was only stable until about 1 meter of altitude or 3 feet 3 inches.
NASA wind tunnel tests confirmed the Avrocar's inherent instability. Despite developing an electromechanical stabilization system, the Avrocar was only stable until about 1 meter of altitude or 3 feet 3 inches.
December 4, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Flaws:
NASA wind tunnel tests confirmed the Avrocar's inherent instability. Despite developing an electromechanical stabilization system, the Avrocar was only stable until about 1 meter of altitude or 3 feet 3 inches.
NASA wind tunnel tests confirmed the Avrocar's inherent instability. Despite developing an electromechanical stabilization system, the Avrocar was only stable until about 1 meter of altitude or 3 feet 3 inches.
Any supersonic aircraft would need to operate from limited airbases, roads or unprepared fields using Vertical Takeoff functionality. The pancake engine of the Avrocar design offered a solution to aircraft performing well at both subsonic and supersonic speeds.
December 4, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Any supersonic aircraft would need to operate from limited airbases, roads or unprepared fields using Vertical Takeoff functionality. The pancake engine of the Avrocar design offered a solution to aircraft performing well at both subsonic and supersonic speeds.
Test pilot Federico Semprini crawled out of the wreck unscathed.
The program was cancelled due to the cost. The few surviving parts are on display at the Gianni Caproni Museum of Aeronautics and at the Volandia aviation museum in Italy.
The program was cancelled due to the cost. The few surviving parts are on display at the Gianni Caproni Museum of Aeronautics and at the Volandia aviation museum in Italy.
November 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Test pilot Federico Semprini crawled out of the wreck unscathed.
The program was cancelled due to the cost. The few surviving parts are on display at the Gianni Caproni Museum of Aeronautics and at the Volandia aviation museum in Italy.
The program was cancelled due to the cost. The few surviving parts are on display at the Gianni Caproni Museum of Aeronautics and at the Volandia aviation museum in Italy.
What happened to the aircraft?
Its first flight was a short hop that landed safely but the second flight on March 4, 1921, ended in disaster. The aircraft nose dived immediately after takeoff into the water breaking apart. The aircraft was damaged further in attempting to tow it back to shore.
Its first flight was a short hop that landed safely but the second flight on March 4, 1921, ended in disaster. The aircraft nose dived immediately after takeoff into the water breaking apart. The aircraft was damaged further in attempting to tow it back to shore.
November 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
What happened to the aircraft?
Its first flight was a short hop that landed safely but the second flight on March 4, 1921, ended in disaster. The aircraft nose dived immediately after takeoff into the water breaking apart. The aircraft was damaged further in attempting to tow it back to shore.
Its first flight was a short hop that landed safely but the second flight on March 4, 1921, ended in disaster. The aircraft nose dived immediately after takeoff into the water breaking apart. The aircraft was damaged further in attempting to tow it back to shore.
Additional Insights:
The pilot was in an open cockpit above the passenger cabin. The passengers were able to enjoy the largest windows of any airliner that came before or since.
The pilot was in an open cockpit above the passenger cabin. The passengers were able to enjoy the largest windows of any airliner that came before or since.
November 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Additional Insights:
The pilot was in an open cockpit above the passenger cabin. The passengers were able to enjoy the largest windows of any airliner that came before or since.
The pilot was in an open cockpit above the passenger cabin. The passengers were able to enjoy the largest windows of any airliner that came before or since.
Flaws:
The massive aircraft was equipped with a total of 9 wings and 8 engines. Amidst all the struts and wings, the absence of any tail surfaces could easily be overlooked.
The massive aircraft was equipped with a total of 9 wings and 8 engines. Amidst all the struts and wings, the absence of any tail surfaces could easily be overlooked.
November 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Flaws:
The massive aircraft was equipped with a total of 9 wings and 8 engines. Amidst all the struts and wings, the absence of any tail surfaces could easily be overlooked.
The massive aircraft was equipped with a total of 9 wings and 8 engines. Amidst all the struts and wings, the absence of any tail surfaces could easily be overlooked.
Although looking like a giant ducted fan engine, the main body of the Coléoptère was in fact an annular wing.
What happened to the aircraft?
The crashing of the Coléoptère during its 9th test flight ended the program as their prototype was destroyed and did not have enough funding to build another.
What happened to the aircraft?
The crashing of the Coléoptère during its 9th test flight ended the program as their prototype was destroyed and did not have enough funding to build another.
November 19, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Although looking like a giant ducted fan engine, the main body of the Coléoptère was in fact an annular wing.
What happened to the aircraft?
The crashing of the Coléoptère during its 9th test flight ended the program as their prototype was destroyed and did not have enough funding to build another.
What happened to the aircraft?
The crashing of the Coléoptère during its 9th test flight ended the program as their prototype was destroyed and did not have enough funding to build another.