5 Weird and Bizarre Airplanes You've Never Seen Before

🍉The Flying Watermelon, or Arava, was developed by Israeli Aircraft Industries in the late 1960s as their first original design. It featured a wide fuselage and rugged fixed landing gear, making it suitable for short runways and rough air strips.

✈️The Jabiru Twin, designed by Jabiru Aircraft in Australia, was a twin-engine plane with engines mounted on the nose. It was created as a solution for pilots flying in remote locations where landing on private farms might result in conflict with angry farmers.

🛩️The Miles Aroan, built during World War II, was a tactical transport plane with a huge cabin that could carry up to 10 passengers or 2,000 lb of cargo. Though it had low power, it was praised by pilots for its flying qualities.

🚀The Thirsty Explorer, designed by Andre Stark, was a unique amphibian aircraft that later transitioned into a land plane. It aimed to provide a cheap alternative to helicopters for pipeline patrol, but it failed to attract buyers and ended up as an exhibit in the South African Air Force Museum.

🎢The Stark AS-37 was a homebuilt plane with staggered wings and twin propellers driven by a belt system. It was known for its unconventional design and was powered by engines like the Citron GS and Porsche Engine. Only two AS-37 planes were built, and none of them are currently flying.

What was the purpose of the Arava's unique design?

—The Arava's wide fuselage and rugged fixed landing gear were designed for superb performance on short runways and rough air strips. It aimed to carry large loads into small airstrips with ease.

Why was the Jabiru Twin developed?

—The Jabiru Twin was developed as a solution for pilots flying in remote locations, particularly in areas where private farms might result in conflict with farmers. The twin-engine design allowed pilots to safely fly over farmlands and jungles without facing hostility from landowners.

What made the Miles Aroan unique?

—The Miles Aroan was a tactical transport plane with a huge cabin that could carry 10 passengers or 2,000 lb of cargo. Despite its low power, it gained praise from pilots for its flying qualities and the ability to carry payloads higher than its own empty weight.

What happened to the Thirsty Explorer?

—The Thirsty Explorer, designed by Andre Stark, did not attract buyers as a cheap alternative to helicopters. It ended up as an exhibit in the South African Air Force Museum after being tested for potential observation plane use. It was known for its unique design and poor flying qualities.

How many Stark AS-37 planes were built?

—Around 20 AS-37 plans were sold to homebuilders, but only two planes were built. None of the AS-37 planes are currently flying, and the surviving airframes can be found in museums in France.

00:00Are you tired of watching the same old videos on boring planes like P-51s, F-18s, or 747s? Check out these 5 weird and bizarre airplanes that you've probably never seen before.

00:10The Flying Watermelon, or Arava, was developed by Israeli Aircraft Industries in the late 1960s as their first original design. It featured a wide fuselage and rugged fixed landing gear, making it suitable for short runways and rough air strips.

02:22The Jabiru Twin, designed by Jabiru Aircraft in Australia, was a twin-engine plane with engines mounted on the nose. It was created as a solution for pilots flying in remote locations where landing on private farms might result in conflict with angry farmers.

04:49The Miles Aroan, built during World War II, was a tactical transport plane with a huge cabin that could carry up to 10 passengers or 2,000 lb of cargo. Though it had low power, it was praised by pilots for its flying qualities.

07:13The Thirsty Explorer, designed by Andre Stark, was a unique amphibian aircraft that later transitioned into a land plane. It aimed to provide a cheap alternative to helicopters for pipeline patrol, but it failed to attract buyers and ended up as an exhibit in the South African Air Force Museum.

09:14The Stark AS-37 was a homebuilt plane with staggered wings and twin propellers driven by a belt system. It was known for its unconventional design and was powered by engines like the Citroën GS and Porsche Engine. Only two AS-37 planes were built, and none of them are currently flying.