Top 5 Wackiest Early Flying Machines!

Getting into the air is no easy business. Even today, we sometimes struggle to outsmart gravity. Back in the early 20th century, trial and error was used extensively by aviation pioneers to see what was possible. Here are some of the more comical, outlandish and wacky early flying machines that appeared back then.

1. Gerhardt Cycleplane (1923)

This legendary clip of the collapsing multiplane rather epitomizes the many trials and tribulations that aviation pioneers went through. Although Dr. W. Frederick Gerhardt is today best remembered for this footage, his pedal-powered airplane was actually quite successful in the long run. After many failures, he achieved several flights and became the first human-powered aviator. If you're interested in human-powered flight, check out this article on another successful 'cycleplane' from the 1960s.

2. Fabre Hydravion (1909)

This airplane was the first successful seaplane to fly, despite looking a little unconventional. Then again, what was 'conventional' back then? The unusual looking contraption, with wings, stabilisers and floats jutting out at all angles, first flew in 1910. A rear-mounted 50hp engine pushed the aircraft forwards at a maximum speed of 55mph. Perched above an upper support of the fuselage sat the pilot, Frenchman Henri Fabre. His family were shipowners, perhaps indicating where he got the inspiration to fly from water.

3. Lee-Richards Annular Monoplane (1913)

Making airplanes with circular (annular) wings was taken seriously back in the early days of flying. Three were built by British inventors Cedric Lee and George Tilghman Richards between 1913 and 1914. The first was destroyed on its first takeoff. The second flew very well but crashed on the 26th April 1914. The third also flew successfully but was unskillfully piloted into a river by an inexperienced Lee and was subsequently written off. This crash brought the story to a soggy end. The annular design reminds me of a certain FT challenge:

4. Dunne Tailless Aeroplane (1913)

Rather impressively, the British army officer John William Dunne had developed a theory of aerodynamics that allowed him to build the first tailless airplane, the D.4. The machine achieved stability through the shape of the wings, just like a flying wing does today. An improved design, the D.8 flew successfully from England to France in 1913. To prove that the aircraft was incredibly stable, a French pilot walked out onto the D.8's wing leaving the airplane to fly itself. You wouldn't see a test pilot trying that today!

5. Sikorsky Bolshoi ('Grand')

This huge Russian passenger carrying aircraft built as early as 1913 was the world's first four-engined aircraft. Designed by Igor Sikorsky, It made many successful flights and provided passengers comfort in the forms of wicker chairs, tables, electric lights, curtains and even a linoleum floor! There was also a wardrobe and washroom, you know, so you can get ready for dinner whilst airborne and that sort of thing. One of my favourite features of this amazing contraption is the 'balcony' up front. Almost unbelievably, you could stroll to the front of the cabin, open the door and walk into the open elements to enjoy the view. It was a different world back then.