5 World War II Aircraft That Never Flew But Should Have

During the Second World War, several aircraft designs showed great promise but never reached full production. These prototypes, though tested and evaluated, remained on the fringes of aviation history. Here are five such aircraft that, despite their potential, never took to the skies in combat.

Grumman XF5F Skyrocket

The Grumman XF5F Skyrocket was a twin-engine fighter developed for aircraft carrier operations. Its most distinctive feature was its design: the nose of the aircraft did not extend ahead of the wing’s leading edge, giving it a unique appearance. Powered by two Wright R-1820 engines, the Skyrocket was intended to be heavily armed, with provisions for two 20 mm Madsen cannons. Despite its innovative design and potential, the XF5F was ultimately not adopted for production, remaining a prototype.

Martin-Baker MB.3 and MB.5

The Martin-Baker MB.3 was a British prototype fighter aircraft, notable for its heavy armament of six 20 mm Hispano cannons. Tragically, the only prototype crashed in September 1942, leading to the cancellation of the program. However, the design evolved into the MB.5, which featured improvements and was considered by test pilots to have excellent performance. Despite these advancements, neither the MB.3 nor the MB.5 entered production.

Polikarpov I-185

The Polikarpov I-185 was a Soviet fighter aircraft designed in 1940. It underwent testing with various engines, including the Shvetsov M-71, and was found to be fast, maneuverable, and well-armed. Despite its promising performance, the I-185 never entered production, partly due to engine development issues and the allocation of resources to other aircraft already in service.

Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly

The Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly was an American ground attack aircraft developed during World War II. It was armed with a 75 mm cannon and six .50 caliber machine guns, making it a formidable weapon against armored targets. The Grizzly performed well during testing, but the end of the war and the prioritization of engine production for other aircraft, such as the B-29 Superfortress, led to the cancellation of the program.

Heinkel He 100

The Heinkel He 100 was a German fighter aircraft that, during its development, set multiple world airspeed records. Despite its impressive performance, the He 100 was not adopted for mass production. Approximately 19 prototypes and pre-production examples were built, but none saw operational service. The aircraft’s limited use was partly due to strategic decisions and the focus on other fighter designs.