The Backward Wing: Grumman X-29A
By the late 1970s composite materials finally solved a problem that had defeated designers for decades: how to build a forward-swept wing that would not twist itself apart under aerodynamic load.
The Gun That Grew Wings: A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Air Force built the A-10 around a single purpose: killing tanks.
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Lockheed designed the P-38 in response to a 1937 Army Air Corps specification calling for a fighter with speed, range, and climb rate that seemed impossible to achieve with a single engine.
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk: The Most Produced Airplane in History
Cessna delivered the first production Model 172 in 1956, adapting it from the earlier tailwheel-equipped 170 by adding a tricycle landing gear that made it far more forgiving for new pilots to land.
