I saw this plane on a recent visit to Pennsylvania. I know some planes are ugly, :shock: but this one abuses the privilege!
Called a Custer Channel Wing (CCW) it was an early version of a S.T.O.L. aeroplane. The idea being that because the whole of the propeller was positioned above the top of the wing section all of the propeller draft was used to cause a low pressure area above the wing. (In the channel area.) This enabled the plane to take off at little more than walking speed. :clap:
Commercially the concept never took off as the planes’ economic efficiency was too low, but at least the concept worked. Even if it did look like an ugly duckling!
Here’s a link to more information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custer_Channel_WingK.
