Frankenplane Prototypes

**MadRat** · 1st November 2012, 13:15

I was bored last night on Halloween and came up with some interesting shapes in my paint program by combining prototype features. Were there ever prototypes that caught your whimsy although in reality were probably left to history? Share your story or digital paint hack.

My frankenplane is the MiG-21I with the scoop intake and solid nose combined with the E-2 Ogival wing prototype for Tu-144 research:

**Giblets** · 1st November 2012, 14:00

I was half expecting to see a picture of the 767 Frakentanker here!

**~Alan~** · 1st November 2012, 15:15

That looks a little Swedish in it's design

**J Boyle** · 1st November 2012, 15:29

Originally Posted by Giblets

I was half expecting to see a picture of the 767 Frakentanker here!

How much did Airbus pay you to type that?

:diablo:

**Freehand** · 1st November 2012, 15:38

I would have love to see the YF-23 make it into service over the or alongside of the F-22A. I do think the Sukhoi T-50 was inspired by the YF-23's design planform and layout.

**Nicolas10** · 1st November 2012, 16:04

Originally Posted by Freehand

I would have love to see the YF-23 make it into service over the or alongside of the F-22A. I do think the Sukhoi T-50 was inspired by the YF-23's design planform and layout.

Looks more similar to NATF by northrop IMO.

Nic

**Portagee** · 1st November 2012, 16:23

Originally Posted by Freehand

I would have love to see the YF-23 make it into service over the or alongside of the F-22A. I do think the Sukhoi T-50 was inspired by the YF-23's design planform and layout.

The USAF are looking for a new bomber... Upscale the YF23 into something B-1B size. 2 pairs of engines rather than just 2 engines giving high sub sonic speeds, internal carriage plus option for non stealthy triple pack of Big Bang munitions under each wing too.

Not quite what the thread is about, but mention of YF 23 brought this to mind.

**SpudmanWP** · 1st November 2012, 16:53

A bigger version of this?

**Freehand** · 1st November 2012, 18:26

Excellent drawings!

**Wanshan** · 1st November 2012, 21:53

Originally Posted by MadRat

I was bored last night on Halloween and came up with some interesting shapes in my paint program by combining prototype features. Were there ever prototypes that caught your whimsy although in reality were probably left to history? Share your story or digital paint hack.

My frankenplane is the MiG-21I with the scoop intake and solid nose combined with the E-2 Ogival wing prototype for Tu-144 research:

That's much like the double delta F-16XL

**MadRat** · 2nd November 2012, 00:41

Searched out a forum for a lot of interesting photomashes:

Some better than others, but many more I did not post.

**Al.** · 2nd November 2012, 18:54

Keep 'em coming young man.

**Dr.Snufflebug** · 2nd November 2012, 19:29

Originally Posted by Wanshan

That's much like the double delta F-16XL

Or perhaps most like a mix between the MiG-21I "Analog" and the MiG E-8 (both of which were MiG-21 derivatives):

**MadRat** · 2nd November 2012, 20:48

I was hoping to combine the X-29 forward swept wing, long nosecone of the RF-5B, canard of either X-29 or X-31, the X-31 tailpipe and paddles, the F-5E QSB modified fuselage, twin tails of the Saegeh or F-CK-1, and maybe even steal something off a JF-17. It will be the F-5 frankenplane. Its difficult finding the planes at matching angles so I may freehand it later.

**MadRat** · 2nd November 2012, 20:57

Someone did a solid nosecone EE Lightning.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6002/p8abr2.jpg

**Tu22m** · 2nd November 2012, 21:05

The Strike Viper looks pretty similar to Su34.

If you want Frankenplanes that where crazy projects look no furter than Luft46 for German WWII testplanes.

Focke Wulfs VTOL jet accellerated rotary aircraft has to be one of the goofiest.

How did they expect it to be safe to operate?

Haha, wtf? I didnt notice that it had wheels. This design explains why Siemens never really made it with their cellphones

Wtf #2... how was the fuel expected to enter the engines at the end of the propellers?

**Dr.Snufflebug** · 2nd November 2012, 21:48

Originally Posted by Tu22m

Wtf #2... how was the fuel expected to enter the engines at the end of the propellers?

Look no further than ramjet-powered helicopter blades. One (quite unsuccessful but at the very least, functional) example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiller_YH-32_Hornet

Goes to show that it's possible, though.

**Rii** · 2nd November 2012, 21:48

Originally Posted by Tu22m

The Strike Viper looks pretty similar to Su34.

It certainly doesn't look anything like an F-16.

**Giblets** · 2nd November 2012, 22:00

Originally Posted by MadRat

I was bored last night on Halloween and came up with some interesting shapes in my paint program by combining prototype features. Were there ever prototypes that caught your whimsy although in reality were probably left to history? Share your story or digital paint hack.

My frankenplane is the MiG-21I with the scoop intake and solid nose combined with the E-2 Ogival wing prototype for Tu-144 research:

Actually reminds me of the X-31:

**Tu22m** · 2nd November 2012, 22:09

Originally Posted by Dr.Snufflebug

Look no further than ramjet-powered helicopter blades. One (quite unsuccessful but at the very least, functional) example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiller_YH-32_Hornet

Goes to show that it's possible, though.

I know that project existed, but doing it 20 years earlier AND putting the rotor in the middle of the airplane is a pretty stupid idea. Helicopters can stabilize themselves thanks to the low point of gravity. This howver is a death trap.

I think these are pretty similar.

**Dr.Snufflebug** · 2nd November 2012, 23:08

Originally Posted by Tu22m

I know that project existed, but doing it 20 years earlier AND putting the rotor in the middle of the airplane is a pretty stupid idea. Helicopters can stabilize themselves thanks to the low point of gravity. This howver is a death trap.

Try 5 years earlier (Triebflügel in the works 1945, Hornet flew 1950 or so).

And the Hornet was not the first successfully flown tip-jet rotorcraft either (in fact, the Germans already tested the concept in 1943 with the successful flights of the Doblhoff 342).

But yeah, obviously there were inherent stability issues with the Triebflügel design (and the Heinkel Wespe etc.), especially noticeable in the planned landing sequence. But I don't for a second believe that it would have been impossible to achieve, especially considering that rather similar VTOL aircraft did fly in the 1950's in both France and the US. However, it was a rather impractical approach and it was soon abandoned. At least one of the US tailsitting VTOL projects was fitted with makeshift horizontal landing gear to allow for a conventional horizontal landing, so I think that was the main issue really.

**MadRat** · 3rd November 2012, 13:11

Originally Posted by MadRat

I was hoping to combine the X-29 forward swept wing, long nosecone of the RF-5B, canard of either X-29 or X-31, the X-31 tailpipe and paddles, the F-5E QSB modified fuselage, twin tails of the Saegeh or F-CK-1, and maybe even steal something off a JF-17. It will be the F-5 frankenplane. Its difficult finding the planes at matching angles so I may freehand it later.

Okay, resorted to freehand.

**Dr.Snufflebug** · 3rd November 2012, 15:28

I decided to contribute as well, I hope that's okay. Here's my Frankenfitter:

It's a Polish Air Force Su-22UM (original image here) mated to a fattened-up F-4 Phantom radome, A-4 Skyhawk side intakes (source) and the IRST/FLIR of a SAAB J35J Draken (from my private photo collection).

...Oh, and it's in something reminscent of 1960's USAF markings. Photoshop galore.

**MadRat** · 3rd November 2012, 18:08

I wish I had your photoshop skills. My goal is to graft the head of an Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III on to the body of an English Electric Lightning F.6 and add in the F-8E's Y-racks with Sidewinders. Go with the overwing tanks. That would give it a front heavy load of 4 Sidewinders and 3 Sparrows/Skyflash missiles.

I have found this crazy XF8U incantation mixed with an F-4:

**Dr.Snufflebug** · 3rd November 2012, 18:32

Originally Posted by MadRat

I wish I had your photoshop skills. My goal is to graft the head of an Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III on to the body of an English Electric Lightning F.6 and add in the F-8E's Y-racks with Sidewinders. Go with the overwing tanks. That would give it a front heavy load of 4 Sidewinders and 3 Sparrows/Skyflash missiles.

I have found this crazy XF8U incantation mixed with an F-4:

That looks crazy indeed.

I've always loved the Corsairs and the Crusaders, especially the two seaters, like TA-7C. I can't really put my finger on why.

I like the sound of what you are describing there, by the way. Racks/pylons in "odd" positions (that is, other than underwing/underbelly) has always fascinated me. I think it looks awesome.

**MadRat** · 3rd November 2012, 19:44

Another beauty idea, only someone did it in a model...

The Panavia Tornado with proper wings from a F/A-18.

An ugly hack of PAKFA with an F-14 set of wings and elevators.

And a cross between the Flanker and Tomcat approaching the first Chinese aircraft carrier.

**MadRat** · 4th November 2012, 04:51

How about a Hornetized MiG-29K?

**Freehand** · 4th November 2012, 15:10

Excellent work!

**MadRat** · 6th November 2012, 12:15

Not quite all the elements I wanted, but here is my latest hack. The English Electric Lightning with the front end and tail of the Panavia Tornado, the intake of the XF8U, Sparrows off the XF8U, drop tanks and Magic AAMs off a Mirage F1, and everything merged in a sloppy manner. I will never claim to be good with digital paint programs.