Here’s a brief collection of high performance aircraft you probably never heard of.

0:05
The Arnold AR-5
The Arnold AR-5, a single-seater homebuilt plane, was designed by filmmaker Mike Arnold to rival the speed of Vans RVs on a budget. With a meticulous focus on details and knowledge in composites, Arnold transformed the AR-5. Even with just a 60hp 2-stroke Rotax 582 engine, the plane reached a staggering 213mph, outpacing some Vans models. Remarkably, Arnold, who was self-taught with no aeronautical background, managed to design the AR-5 with better drag efficiency than the P-51. While the plane received praise from magazine editors and featured on Kitplanes' covers, Arnold decided against selling it as a kit. Instead, he sold the AR-5 to the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Francisco, where it now hangs.

2:07
Windecker Eagle
In 1969, the Windecker Eagle made history as the first composite aircraft certified by the FAA, standing out in an era dominated by aluminum aircraft from Piper, Cessna, and Beech. Designed by a dentist seeking a superior plane, the Eagle was uniquely stylish. Initially designed with fixed landing gear, a board member's insistence on retractable gear increased costs and complexity. FAA certification cost an exorbitant $20 million (around $100 million today), and the design had to be strengthened by 20% to meet FAA standards. After a test pilot bailed out during a demonstration, only seven Eagles were produced before the company went bankrupt.

4:17
American Electric Piranha
The American Electric Piranha, resembling a Van’s RV or Mini Mustang, boasts a remarkable history. Originating in the mid-1960s, it was part of "Project Little Brother" to replace the AC-47 Spooky gunships during the Vietnam era. Milt Blair designed the Piranha, drawing inspiration from the Cosmic Wind, a 1940s racing plane. Equipped with 4 rockets and a 500-pound bomb, six Piranhas were produced. However, its challenging flight dynamics led to the project's termination in favor of C-130 Spectre gunships. While five Piranhas were destroyed, Bud Pinkston acquired the remaining one, upgrading it to 210 horsepower, allowing for speeds of up to 260 mph. Bud, with over 2500 flight hours on the Piranha, mastered its unique flight characteristics.

7:01
Aero & Tech Nexth
The Nexth hails from Italy, with lines somewhat reminiscent of the early 1980s Lamborghini Countach. Legally an ultralight in Europe, and soon available in LSA version in the US. Aero & Tech is a division of Morelli Group, a company with sheet metal expertise. And it shows on the Nexth. Also similar to the Lamborghini, pilots enter via gull doors. The aluminum space frame is based on Formula 1 construction techniques. Another parallel you could draw is with the F-117, including multi-facet fuselage panels…the black paint adds the finishing touch to the stealthy design. Powered by a Rotax 912, the Nexth cruises at about 150 miles per hour with a 1,400 feet per minute climb. With foldable wings, you can cruise with Nexth down the road, when you’re tired of cruising in the sky. So far, only one has been produced so far. Listed price is $77,000, not bad for a stealthy-looking high performance sportplane.

8:20
SkyRocket II
In the 1970s, while many pilots opted for aircraft like the Cessna 210 or Beechcraft Bonanza, the Bellanca SkyRocket 2 was for those seeking extreme performance. This high-performance single-engine aircraft boasted a 435 horsepower geared Continental, while most 6-cylinder models had 285 to 300 horsepower. The Skyrocket's exceptional performance came not just from power but its composite fuselage and laminar-flow wings, rooted in WWII N.A.C.A. 6 airfoil designs. Giuseppe Bellanca began the Skyrocket II's development in the 1950s. After his death and company financial struggles, the aircraft, co-developed by his son August, launched in 1975 to rave reviews. NASA found the design flawless. It promised a 300 mph top speed, 250 mph cruise, and 1,500-mile range. However, the 1980s general aviation market downturn halted its progress, and the sole prototype can be found at the Bellanca Museum in Wilmongton, DE.



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