During World War II aviation was making an incredible progress. Every Nation sought to out-flank the enemy in the air and many ideas were tried. At the time some of these seemed impossible to consider and were believed not to be down-to-earth. But as history has shown, numerous doubters are wrong. Not only did some of these unconventional airplanes see the light of day, but they were even able to accomplish incredible feats in their time. Innovation has no limits as these aircrafts have proven successful.

While a large number of experimental aircrafts were constructed only a few achieved fame and distinction for their achievements or their great originality. The ability of some to produce in small numbers, and of others to be too impractical for wartime usage; and the legendary success of all these planes, have somehow defied the odds. They had made an impact on the future of aviation and their legacy had continued long after they took to the skies.

The airplanes presented here are only some of the rare aircrafts that became legendary for their accomplishments. It took some of them to show detractors that they could do better; others were given new roles and had to find success in those other places. Some of the aircrafts had only limited production but their innovative design spurred future developments in aviation. All of these remarkable aircrafts serve as the prime examples of innovation that continue to amaze historians and aviation enthusiasts to this day.

1. Blohm & Voss BV 141

The Blohm & Voss BV 141 was a flying machine that had already been invented, but was still too far ahead at the time of World War II. The aircraft company suggested an unusual and radical configuration with an asymmetric layout. On one side of the aircraft was the engine and fuselage while the other side sported an enclosed observation cockpit. Some people had said it was impossible for such an aircraft to be able to fly, but engineers proved them wrong. The aircraft’s design was unconventional but it proved to be a successful one. The most impressive part of the aircraft was its outstanding observation qualities, which were offered by the large glass cabin. The BV 141 was an extraordinary aircraft which challenged convention.

Unconventional Design Features:

• The aircraft’s layout is unusual, with a single engine at the nose and a single engine in the tail
• Large observation cockpit
• Great observing location for spotters
• Aircraft had a balanced flight performance
• Excellent visibility for reconnaissance missions

Although all the novel concepts and outstanding feats were accomplished, the BV 141 did not win over the German Air Ministry. Other aircrafts were selected for more development and production. But the plane became a favorite among researchers who studied this unique specimen. The plane is still considered one of the most extraordinary achievements of German engineering to this day.

2. Boulton Paul Defiant

The Boulton Paul Defiant was an unusual aircraft in its design of military aircrafts. The aircraft was armed with a turret at the front rather than forward-firing guns, which had most other fighters of the time. Unlike most fighters of the time, the plane had a turret in the front to provide a broad field of fire. Needless to say, doubts were voiced about the concept. The idea, though, proved successful until it was time for the action to kick in. In such a situation the Defiant was too slow and fragile to withstand an attack by the enemy, who were adept at shooting down aircraft. As a result of these drawbacks, the Boulton Paul Defiant was considered a failure and was not to be used in daylight combat. However, the plane soon had a new mission, that of night fighter.

Operational Features:

• Rotating gun turret
• Unorthodox aircraft design
• Fails in daylight time operations
• Successful as a night fighter
• The aircraft could be made for a range of missions

The Boulton Paul Defiant were not very effective at engaging other agile enemy fighters but were useful when engaging slower bombers. Opening the gun turret that rotated at the front of the plane was particularly handy when firing on hostile planes from the rear. This led to the development of the Boulton Paul Defiant as night fighters and their use with airborne radar systems. The plane demonstrated that some technologies only had to be applied to a suitable purpose to make them useful.

3. Fiat G.55 Centauro

Not many people are aware of the fact that the great fighter aircraft was developed in Italy that pilots loved. The Fiat G.55 Centauro was a wonderful aircraft that because of its limited production, was not widely advertised. The plane, however, was capable of competing with the best fighters of WWII. Aviation experts and historians continue to regard the Centauro as one of the most remarkable fighters to come from Italy.

Performance Highlights:

• Excellent powerplant
• High altitude performance
• Heavy armament
• Remarkable aircraft performance
• Outstanding fighter aircraft

Of course one of the main features of the Fiat G.55 Centauro was its high performance straight engine. The plane could fly at a high speed at altitude and was very manoeuvrable in fight. It was equipped with heavy machine guns and strong autocannons which could easily penetrate the enemy fuselage. Among the best Italian fighters of the day, the Centauro was capable of absorbing the best Allied fighters. The plane also had an extended history which carried on beyond retirement.

4. Kyushu J7W Shinden

One of the most interesting aircraft during World War II was the Kyushu J7W Shinden. It was a remarkably unusual canard design, with the wings at the back and tiny control surfaces up front, attracting considerable attention. It was bold and innovative to design and one of a kind.

Advanced Design Innovations:

• Unorthodox canard configuration
• Nose-mounted cannons
• High-altitude interception capability
• Experimental aerodynamics
• Forward-looking design

The Shinden was an experimental high-altitude interceptor that was intended to intercept U.S. B-29 Superfortress bombers. Four very powerful 30 mm cannons were fitted in the front of the aircraft. Though innovative in its approach, and seemingly impressive in performance, the aircraft failed to come into service in time for combat. The Shinden was ahead of its time and many aircraft of today incorporate the ideas first developed in the J7W.

5. Horten Ho 229

The Horten Ho 229, which was one of the most unusual planes of the WWII era. The Ho 229 was designed by the Horten brothers as a flying wing, with no fuselage or tail to produce less drag. It was a very different design from many of its contemporary aircraft counterparts. The brothers sought to design an aircraft with minimal drag and maximum speed and thus came the unconventional design.

Groundbreaking Features:

• The revolutionary flying wing design
• Reduced aerodynamic drag
• Unorthodox design
• Future stealth aircraft
• Unconventional design

The design of the Ho 229 was almost stealthy, in that although the emphasis was on speed, many of the characteristics of a stealth were inherent. Scientists and engineers today see a lot of commonality between the Ho 229 and today’s stealth aircraft. The Horten Ho 229 was an innovative aircraft, with many interesting features. It was the fruit of the inventive genius of the Horten brothers, and their ideas for the future of aviation. It was cancelled before the aircraft could be put in service, but the limited number of prototypes produced gave a good indication of the future development of aircraft design.

6. Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster

The Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster was one of the last attempts to develop a bomber aircraft that used propellers. On the XB-42, the designers decided to mount the two engines in the fuselage, and to drive two large counter-rotating propellers at the tail. This innovative design decreased the drag and increased the speed of the plane. This was a period in aviation history of tremendous change that produced the XB-42 Mixmaster.

Innovative Engineering Features:

• Internally mounted engines
• Contra-rotating propellers
• Reduced aerodynamic drag
• High speed
• Transitional aircraft

The XB-42 has proven to be very fast during its testing. In 1945 it established a transcontinental speed record, and surpassed the performance of numerous other aircraft that were contemporary. Thanks to the inventive design of the XB-42, its performance came as a result. The XB-42 proved the capabilities of abnormal designs and the advantages of lowering the drag of the air flow. It was a brave attempt, but a good lesson for future aircraft designers. The Mixmaster was a thing of the past and the future of aviation was soon jet aircraft.

7. Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe

The Messerschmitt Me 262 was the first operational jet fighter and ushered in a new chapter in military aviation. The jet gave the world its first look into the speed air combat was going to take in the future. The Me 262, though hampered by technical problems and strategic mistakes, succeeded in demonstrating that jet aircraft were the aircraft of the future.

Jet Fighter Milestones:

• Aeroplane that first flew as a jet fighter
• Revolutionary combat performance
• Superior flight speed
• Advanced aerodynamic design
• Historic aviation breakthrough

The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe’s unrivaled speed made it very difficult to be caught, and its high level of armaments made the most effective use of the aircraft. Although the jet played a small role in the war as it was late and did not turn out in large numbers, its performance showed the potential of jet fighters. The Me 262 went on to influence the future of military aviation by demonstrating the value of jet propulsion.

Well after the war, the design of the Me 262 was studied by a number of manufacturers, with the goal of creating a new jet fighter. The innovations of the fighter were quickly picked up by many aircraft companies including the twin-engine configuration. The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe jet is one of the most important advancements in the history of aviation.

8. Arado Ar 234 Blitz

The Arado Ar 234 Blitz jet bomber was the first operational jet bomber aircraft in the world. The fighter jets may have been the focus of the story, but the impact of the Blitz on the aviation industry was tremendous. The jet bomber proved that aircraft could be free, fast and effective bombers and reconnoiters, and that they could be fast enough to evade interception.

Jet Bomber Achievements:

• The first operational jet bomber
• High-speed reconnaissance missions
• Reduced interception risk
• Advanced bombing capabilities
• Historic aviation innovation

It would be hard to overestimate the importance of the Arado Ar 234 Blitz jet bomber, which was the first jet bomber to be used. The Blitz was very versatile it could undertake reconnaissance and bombing operations with equal efficiency. It also had a high speed that enabled it to rapidly enter and exit enemy airspace, limiting the likelihood of being shot down.

The Ar 234 Blitz jet bomber was not used extensively prior to the end of the war but did have an impact on the future development of military aircraft. The Blitz showed that jet bombers had great potential following which many Post-war jet aircraft were developed. In aviation history, the Arado Ar 234 Blitz will never be forgotten for its groundbreaking design and versatility.

9. Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger

Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger jet fighter was a desperate attempt to produce a jet fighter for the German military in the desperate bid to keep pace with the need for air power during World War II. The Volksjäger was rushed into production, and at the time there were many innovative solutions which could not have been implemented earlier. The fighter’s construction was largely made of wood, and its design emphasized simplicity and speed. Even under the difficult conditions, it was a remarkable progress of technology in the form of the He 162 Volksjäger jet fighter.

Emergency Fighter Innovations:

• Lightweight wooden construction
• Rapid production design
• This was a precursor to the early ejection seat
• Compact jet fighter
• Creative wartime engineering

The most significant aspect of the Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger jet fighter was the ejection seat, one of the first ever to be used on an operational aircraft. The design of the Volksjäger also reflected the ingenuity of wartime aircraft the aircraft was built light, in order to deliver greater performance. The small size and the fact that the jet engines were mounted on the top were also new things on the He 162 Volksjäger jet fighter.

The Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger jet fighter was an important influence on the future of military aviation. The Volksjäger was a forward-looking design and manufacturing of jet fighters. The He 162 Volksjäger jet fighter was not a widely used type, but it was one of the most interesting aircraft of the war due to its unusual construction features and wartime modifications.

10. Gloster Meteor

The Gloster Meteor jet fighter was among the most dependable early jet fighters, and it achieved an enduring legacy for years after. The Meteor’s designers focused on creating a simple but effective jet fighter that could be produced in reasonable numbers. The fighter’s well-rounded design enabled it to be in service during late World War II and to impact later jet designs.

Legacy of the Meteor:

• The reliable early jet fighter
• Successful combat performance
• Effective V-1 interceptor
• Long operational service
• Influential aviation legacy

The Gloster Meteor jet fighter was one of the first war-time jet fighters to go into service. Its reliability and effectiveness were demonstrated when the Meteor was used to intercept V-1 flying bombs. The Meteor was also developed, and was capable of engaging enemy aircraft and was tough enough to survive combat. The Gloster Meteor jet fighter had a great impact on the future of aviation, influencing the design and development of many follow-on jet fighters.

The Gloster Meteor jet fighter was a versatile aircraft, utilised as a fighter-bomber, trainer and much more. The Meteor has also been one of the longest service life jet fighters in history, with the fighter in service for several decades after its introduction. The Gloster Meteor jet fighter made a great step towards moving from piston engine aircraft to jet fighters.