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During the 50s the French attempted to build a unique plane with a circular wing that could take off vertically, but the iconic-looking aircraft was ultimately a disaster.
Vertical takeoff jets have been less popular due to the complexity and economic feasibility of their design. Late 1950s saw one of the most audacious attempts at creating a conceptually new aircraft that wouldn’t need a runway. That creature was called Coléoptère, which is French for ‘beetle.’
The approach was largely inspired by the idea that runways present a very conspicuous target and are likely to be struck and rendered inoperable soon after the start of a large-scale conflict.
Coléoptère featured the cylindrical wing, initially conceived by Austrian engineer Helmut von Zborowski. He argued that a doughnut-shaped wing could reduce drag and, if, merged with the engine could also function as ramjet.
It had deflecting vanes in the engine exhaust for maneuvering during takeoff and landing, four fins mounted on the outer side of the annular wing for horizontal flight and two retractable canards in the nose to facilitate the transition between horizontal and vertical phases. Coléoptère was also equipped with a tilting seat, allowing the pilot to remain in the upright position both in vertical and horizontal flight.
However, actual flight tests of the Coléoptère were far from successful. It got as high as 2,625 ft, but the aircraft had a tendency to spin around its vertical axis. The C450’s controllability during landing also left much to be desired.
Most importantly, C450 never demonstrated a successful horizontal flight. On July 25, 1959, when it rose into the air for the ninth and last time, the Coléoptère actually spent some time in horizontal flight before crashing. The aircraft went wildly out of control and the test pilot barely escaped death by ejecting at just 160 ft. The ‘beetle’ burned down and no money was allocated for building more prototypes.
Vertical takeoff jets have been less popular due to the complexity and economic feasibility of their design. Late 1950s saw one of the most audacious attempts at creating a conceptually new aircraft that wouldn’t need a runway. That creature was called Coléoptère, which is French for ‘beetle.’
The approach was largely inspired by the idea that runways present a very conspicuous target and are likely to be struck and rendered inoperable soon after the start of a large-scale conflict.
Coléoptère featured the cylindrical wing, initially conceived by Austrian engineer Helmut von Zborowski. He argued that a doughnut-shaped wing could reduce drag and, if, merged with the engine could also function as ramjet.
It had deflecting vanes in the engine exhaust for maneuvering during takeoff and landing, four fins mounted on the outer side of the annular wing for horizontal flight and two retractable canards in the nose to facilitate the transition between horizontal and vertical phases. Coléoptère was also equipped with a tilting seat, allowing the pilot to remain in the upright position both in vertical and horizontal flight.
However, actual flight tests of the Coléoptère were far from successful. It got as high as 2,625 ft, but the aircraft had a tendency to spin around its vertical axis. The C450’s controllability during landing also left much to be desired.
Most importantly, C450 never demonstrated a successful horizontal flight. On July 25, 1959, when it rose into the air for the ninth and last time, the Coléoptère actually spent some time in horizontal flight before crashing. The aircraft went wildly out of control and the test pilot barely escaped death by ejecting at just 160 ft. The ‘beetle’ burned down and no money was allocated for building more prototypes.
