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The Ugliest Flying Machine Ever Designed
The mythical “Flying Jeep”
In the 1950s, the US military launched a design competition that tasked engineers with creating a Flying Jeep. This was a novel Cold War-era initiative aimed at developing a lightweight, low-flying aircraft that could function similarly to a ground-based jeep but with the added advantage of flying over obstacles. The design had to fly, be able to be equipped with standard military equipment and then be able to land and drive. These vehicles were intended for battlefield reconnaissance, troop transport, and even close air support. Several companies attempted to create a practical design, but none were successfully adopted into military service.
Such programs often lead to some truly unique designs that you don’t see anywhere else, and the Flying Jeep succeeded in delivering a true monstrosity. The “winner” of the competition was the Curtiss-Wright VZ-7 and it is the ugliest flying machine ever created.
Specifications of the Curtiss-Wright VZ-7
- Crew: 1 (pilot)
- Length: 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m)
- Width: 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)
- Height: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
- Empty Weight: 1,031 lb (468 kg)
- Gross Weight: 1,860 lb (844 kg)
