what is the worst looking plane of all time?

[Johnnytheboy]

Some of these are brilliant!

[DodgyGeezer]

To be fair the A10/Warthog isn't exactly blessed with looks but, for some reason,

[Milkyway63]

P-82 TWIN MUSTANG...

https://images.app.goo.gl/ZzHxhgLNjpjKfSRR9

Perhaps not so ugly... just plane weird.
Apparently... twin controls, so 1 pilot could have a kip.

I wonder if they shared the banking duties...
I can imagine them saying; “ Alright my side”...

If you’re into models...
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:AN...

Edited by Milkyway63 on Thursday 9th September 12:13

Edited by Milkyway63 on Thursday 9th September 18:39

[Yertis]

Lots of interwar aircraft were very ugly, especially those by outfits like Tupolev, Block and Blackburn. Thankfully balanced out by the artists at De Havilland, Douglas, and Supermarine.

[P5BNij]

ReverendCounter said:

Handley Page Hampden, Short Skyvan

Trivial anecdote alert - back in the '70s my Dad bought me the Airfix kit of the HP Hampden one Christmas, imagine how gutted I was when I opened the box to find half the parts were missing, including one side of the fuselage! He made amends by buying me the 1/24th scale Me109 the following week

[anonymous-user]

I love the BV141 too. Linked a model kit image, such a weird looking thing.

[RizzoTheRat]

I agree that that Ilushin is a clear winner, but plenty of competition for second place, especially among experimental aircraft


Convair Pogo



Short SC.1



Dornier 31

[lufbramatt]

PZL M-15... jet powered biplane



Transavia Airtruk (also featured in Mad Max)

Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 9th September 12:19

[Tom1312]

Always disliked these.

[Jake899]

RizzoTheRat said:

I agree that that Ilushin is a clear winner, but plenty of competition for second place, especially among experimental aircraft


Dornier 31

Seriously, you think this is ugly? In my eyes it's one of the coolest planes in history. A C130 with a harrier under each wing? This in production serving the frontline harrier squadrons in Germany would be pure scifi fantasy come to life!

[Leon R]

Goblin must be in with a shout.

[anonymous-user]

I always thought the Breguet 763 was one of the worst.



But at least it’s vaguely streamlined in a whale kind of way.

That Russian one that looks like a Wessex with wings is the worst.

[P5BNij]

Interesting thread this - I didn't know half of those posted so far even existed. Some of them look as though they're defying the laws of gravity and physics.

[horseshoecrab]

Another nod for the twin mustang from me but ultimately my nomination goes to the Stratolaunch.
Someone will probably point out it's an engineering marvel but it does a very specific job of getting branson near to space and looks horrible.
I'm struggling to fine one redeeming feature to this epic waste of resources.

[Milkyway63]

horseshoecrab said:

Another nod for the twin mustang from me but ultimately my nomination goes to the Stratolaunch.
Someone will probably point out it's an engineering marvel but it does a very specific job of getting branson near to space and looks horrible.
I'm struggling to fine one redeeming feature to this epic waste of resources.

I nearly nominated Howard Hugh’s Spruce Goose...
This may be the modern equivalent.
( Alas... both ahead of their time)... this one seems a bit more successful though.

[RizzoTheRat]

Jake899 said:

RizzoTheRat said:

I agree that that Ilushin is a clear winner, but plenty of competition for second place, especially among experimental aircraft


Dornier 31

Seriously, you think this is ugly? In my eyes it's one of the coolest planes in history. A C130 with a harrier under each wing? This in production serving the frontline harrier squadrons in Germany would be pure scifi fantasy come to life!

Oh it's cool. but it's still ugly.

If you're going to dissalow that one how about I substitute it for the Bell X-14



or the Ryan Vertiplane



I've got a book somewhere on experimental aircraft and a lot VTOL ones really just look wrong

[Yertis]

RizzoTheRat said:

Short SC.1

I was once presented with some sort of Air Cadet award by a chap called Tom Brook Smith, who flew that machine.

[lufbramatt]

horseshoecrab said:

Another nod for the twin mustang from me but ultimately my nomination goes to the Stratolaunch.
Someone will probably point out it's an engineering marvel but it does a very specific job of getting branson near to space and looks horrible.
I'm struggling to fine one redeeming feature to this epic waste of resources.

Stratolaunch was founded by Paul Allen (Microsoft) as a reusable satellite launch system, not for space jollies like Richard Bransons "White Knight".

Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 9th September 15:33

[RobbyJ]

Equus said:

Or the Ilyushin iL-40:

Wow, now I know where BMW get their latest design inspiration from.



I generally find 'ugly' planes some of the best looking in a weird way. This is one of my favourites:

[Teddy Lop]

DodgyGeezer said:

To be fair the A10/Warthog isn't exactly blessed with looks but, for some reason,

Its ugly in an unapologetic brutal purposefulness way that befits it's role in life pretty well, compared to some of the sorry misshapen lumps that adorn this thread.