This plane could rescue other planes IN FLIGHT!

[@AaronShenghao]

Looks like something middle schooler would dreamed of… and I love it.

[@adastra7939]

More like a 5 year old than a middle schooler.

[@g-3409]

And the narrating something a kindergartner would do…

[@jordansean18]

And yet I'm sure every engineer reacted "hah, that's silly .. wait"

[@RuskiBear57]

I thought we all dreamed of fumbling shaak ti

[@Bangy]

I legit drew this exact plane in year 5. Except it was so big it could fit the entire solar system inside.

[@HALLish-jl5mo]

It looks like something International Rescue would build.

[@adastra7939]

Thunderbird 7?

[@chheinrich8486]

Thunderbirds are go😅

[@brianedwards7142]

All the time I was watching this I was thinking "just build Thunderbird 2 already".

[@dorsk84]

​@@adastra7939Well the OG only had 5, then the remake added Thunderbird X..... so 6 or Y...

[@SinergiaAlUnisono]

What is Thunderbird ? @@chheinrich8486 , got a good link to see what's it about ?, thanks

[@shiny4984]

Wow! That does look pretty weird and impressive, but it's not the weirdest thing y- " And it planned to land and take-off vertically" ah.. there it is

[@BLENDITE]

You just summarized the entire video

[@johnivanacep.sulitsulit5711]

They better make it though

[@TheBasher-_-]

Ik right I'm like why add VTOL to this already risky idea 😂

[@toasterhavingabath6980]

​@@TheBasher-_-vtol cool or something

[@arrjay2410]

As soon as I saw the part where the planes dock I thought, just as you commented at the end, about the danger of collision. You would wind up doubling the disaster. The other functions, other than aircraft intercept, are pretty much done now-a-days by the C-17 and commercial cargo aircraft.

[@jtjames79]

I remember when people said catching rockets with a giant robot arm was a dumb idea. This type of thing would probably work best without a human crew in both aircraft.

[@Kalvinjj]

Even aerial refueling is hard enough as is, can't imagine this.

[@kishascape]

Yeah but this has a yeeting function so you can put a giant bomb on top the size of an aircraft fuselage and than dump it on your enemies from above.

[@JustDarkOfficial]

​@@kishascapeSounds like a type of thing you'd find in War Thunder someday

[@G-Cole-01]

@@jtjames79 well the giant robot arm wasn't on it's own damn rocket

[@SocialExperimentOfficial]

Plot twist: *The rescue plane suffers a bird strike and now needs a rescue plane to rescue it*

[@josiahbayliss3697]

This looks like the type of plane you would see as the picture for a mobile game about matching and merging cartoon planes

[@ArchOfWinter]

This somehow makes more sense than that concept of the building in detachable passenger cabin with parachute for every plane just in case the plane might crash.

[@Flashfire2205]

Lmao this plane is the easiest way to turn 1 plane in trouble into a two plane fireball

[@lapintueur4799]

Sorry to contradict you, but most distressed planes would crash before the rescue plane can intercept them an those who dont can probably still make an emergency landing and do it faster. I think the concept make more sense for landing space shuttle but even then it is simpler to make them land by themselves.

[@Flashfire2205]

@@lapintueur4799 Exactly and not to mention if a distressed plane somehow has enough control to fly perfectly level and dock with a larger aircraft it is likely capable and almost certainly safer for it to land on a runway. But that doesn't matter because most fatal aviation incidents happen when an aircraft suddenly loses control or pilot error leads to a sudden crash.

[@dariootero5579]

@@Flashfire2205 yeah, but what if they lost all hydrualics

[@bigz4302]

True, but to be fair, this was the early days of commercial aviation. Back when it was far more likely you'd crash

[@gonun69]

The thumbnail looks ridiculous, can't wait for that video

[@___Me_]

Main problem with the rescue docking part is the narrow margin for error while flying in the slipstream in the rescue plane. This would be very hard, esspecially for a pilot in distress. Also: rescue planes would have to be stationed all around the world and probably would still come too late to do anything meaningful.

[@itsthesola10]

One could imagine the carrier plane doing the maneuvers relative to the distressed craft

[@Zenek7274]

In modern times, maybe. A computer analysis system that could align tself with the distressed plane could work. Trying to do that in the 60s would be like trying to dock two oddly shaped spacecraft, with wind and possible damage causing more problems. Fun idea though.

[@arjaysoguilon799]

I think on board computers can handle that

[@skorp5677]

Also, the plane is like on fire or something...

[@HailAzathoth]

@@itsthesola10 you never took physics did you

[@andysvehiclehistorychannel]

That's why i love the 1960s the dreams were bigger than anyone could imagine today what an amazing aircraft

[@AC-mu2qq]

its like the shuttle carrying 747 but with a plane instead

[@canoshit]

plane carrying shuttle carrying 747

[@dobeikwan3684]

@@canoshitthat hurt my head for a second

[@jpotter2086]

... and the whole catching it in the air part throw in for show

[@rayceeya8659]

It looks like my favorite style SSTO I build in Kerbal Space Program. My thing is I love to build a huge SSTO that can haul an entire space station to orbit. None of the cargo bays are big enough so I strap the cargo to the roof.

[@sabotabby3372]

nightmare blunt rotation

[@lapiswolf2780]

Going on a family roadtrip with the personal jet strapped to the roof.

[@Blitz2o]

This is some "Thunderbirds" stuff right here. Very cool!

[@6E_6F_hex]

that 4chan thread of someone getting turned on by planes

[@thefancytiefling]

I mean there have been plenty of instances where aircraft collisions resulted in planes getting stuck together and the primary plane being able to land with the secondary still attached but to manually do so especially on planes that might have severe issues such as fires or loss of control might result in two down aircraft especially overland

[@EonityLuna]

This has big Thunderbirds/International Rescue vibes.

[@ronjonson26]

Team America

[@tracytron7162]

@@ronjonson26 No

[@KlaxontheImpailr]

@@tracytron7162yes

[@lightspeedvictory]

At the very least it would’ve made for a cool toy Requesting videos on the following: -switchblade aircraft designs such as the FA-37 Talon from the ‘05 movie “Stealth” or the X-02 Wyvern from the Ace Combat franchise (the concept, not the actual fighters I mentioned) -Super Tomcat-21 and ASF-14 -the NATF program as a whole -early ATF proposals/McDonnell Douglas’ ATF proposal -Sea Apache -F-20 Tigershark -Bae SABA -Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Technology Bomber proposal -Northrop’s proposal for what would become the F-117 Nighthawk -Interstate TDR -JSF proposals OTHER THAN the X-32 and X-35 -XFV-12 -Gloster Meteor -the proposals that didn’t win the F-X program that spawned the F-15 Eagle -Erado E.555 -model 853 quiet bird -the USSR’s Project P-2 submarine

[@yosefleibjacobson3698]

(YES)¹⁰⁰

[@khathaway414]

Okay you found some insane designs before but this one is the grand prize winner of weird... BTW I love the Nam Plane Plane.

[@cellpat2686]

The DL 732 and the PA 707 look beautiful. Very nice graphics. Beautiful colours.

[@Retailman100]

The DL looks like a bad port from a mobile game. Idk who did the livery, but that's not it

[@oskarrasmussen7137]

You know those toys that looks a vehicle or something but can be folded out to be a full playset? Yeah, that's what this thing looks like.

[@pRahvi0]

I do think that, even before expiring, the patent was probably the least of issues preventing me or anyone else from building stuff like that...

[@LordandGodofYouTube]

This looks like a way to avert an impending disaster by possibly causing an even bigger disaster. I'm sure when this plane was being discussed in the early stages the room went quiet when anyone said "What could go wrong?"

[@IAmTheAce5]

I should think a better design for mid-air rescue would be a drone or small aircraft that's essentially a 'tug' or flying engine, such that, when attached to the aircraft in distress it can take the load of thrust and control lost in the accident; at the very least, with the proper coordination of controls, it would then guide the aircraft closer to a safe landing.

[@davidshahin9753]

WHAT?

[@bocahdongo7769]

Most accident occur on landing and takeoff anyway. And you don't live on Ace Combat universe, don't pretend physic cost can be magically be paid with leaves

[@TheRealWilliamWhite]

​@@davidshahin9753drone delivered temporary engine? It wouldn't have very much fuel.

[@CASA-dy4vs]

If the drone wants to be a tug then it would hav to be at least 2 km out of a nearby airport just to attempt to drag the plane back with I assume small engines as you have not stated the size and power of the engine and how it would attach

[@jpotter2086]

The plane in distress would not have been designed for a new source of thrust that clamped on ... somewhere

[@Funica11]

If the troubled plane is as controllable as it could dock on that rescue plane, then it's better to land on the nearest runway.

[@aslamnurfikri7640]

A: "We need a plane to carry a plane" B: "How about just fly it?" A: "Holy sh*t you are right"

[@adastra7939]

What next? A plane that carries a plane that also carries another plane etc.

[@AdhvaithSane]

@@adastra7939 *That* would be *overly exaggerated* TO SAY THE LEAST.

[@koharumi1]

Some billionaire: this sounds like a good idea. Lets build it!

[@chheinrich8486]

Is said billionare an ex astronauts named jeff tracy, because hell yeah, thunderbirds are go😅

[@roryrdmb6667]

This is the most thunderbirds idea for a plane design I’ve ever seen!

[@Vladimir-jq6wb]

Thunderbird, eu também concordo com você, está para lá de futurista.

[@vlnow]

We need to start building all of these old 60's ideas.

[@WayneKitching]

The patent is expired and there is nothing stopping you from building a plane plane. Phineas: Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today!

[@iamarizonaball2642]

What about the Saunders roe p192 queen?

[@praetorian3902]

We need to gather 100 Million youtubers and each need to give 10 dollars. And more to build a factory, pay the software engineers etc etc.

[@Heavy_weapons07]

Just watch it get hit by a mysterious ray, then blow up into bits like the other projects

[@jacobthecool3000]

The FAA and $1B in RnD funds are stopping you.

[@dartharbiter2334]

"Mummy whats that plane doing to the other one? 😢" Lmao that thumbnail is so wacky

[@robertdragoff6909]

Uh, making chicks

[@quillmaurer6563]

I've had a somewhat milder idea of making an airplane for transporting airliner wings prior to assembly. The way Airbus and Boeing make airplanes these days is large components built in various locations around a continent or the world and transported to another location for final assembly. Sometimes this is done in outsize cargo aircraft like the Beluga or DreamLifter. I was thinking instead, for the wings, have the pair of wings joined to the central wing box (this is typically done before the pair of wings is joined to the fuselage) and an airplane that would carry them externally. Would be a relatively small aircraft with a slender fuselage, relatively small low-mounted wings with oversize ailerons, and racks for attaching the payload wing above. With payload wing mounted, it would become a Sesquiplane (biplane with much larger top wing than bottom wing), the payload wings functionally providing lift, but with control surfaces locked in neutral position. Flying it would be rather interesting as it would fly very differently with versus without a payload wing attached - would have the unusual distinction of having a higher stall speed without cargo than with cargo.

[@ActAshira]

I think that would result in more drag and more turbulent air around the whole aircraft, and it won't be as efficient as the belugas. Also take cargo damage from weather conditions into consideration. "Flying it would be interesting" is where I'd leave it.

[@quillmaurer6563]

@@ActAshira There would certainly be design challenges, but the main advantage over a Beluga would be that the overall aircraft could be much smaller - wouldn't need to carry the wings inside, just on top. As for the cargo damage possibility, say from hail, that's a risk installed wings on finished aircraft face every time the aircraft flies, or for that matter is parked outside, which combined are probably at least 95% of the time.

[@FastCarsNoRules220]

Imagine if the "plane" plane also had an emergency, and they need to send another "plane" plane to rescue it, and it would just be a bunch of stacked up planes.

[@BlueRGuy]

This plane deadass looks like a cartoon, it even got an art style and everything 😭

[@karbengo]

Extreme thuderbird vibes comming from this concept.

[@dorsk84]

Like if Thunderbird 4 was external not internal.

[@ChimeraX0401]

I pretty much think this is best for military application. Imagine a jet fighter or bomber doesnt need to get back to an airbase or aircraft carrier to replenish it's loadout, with this a jet fighter can just land on it replenish and refuel immediately, and then send it again for another mission. It will drastically reduce the time between missions where time can mean life or death....

[@OurEternalSoul]

I had an idea very similar to this after seeing the c5 galaxy for the first time and was saying how much room it has on top off the plane was not being used but i also figured the cargo on top would affect fuel consumption too much, also the faa probably dont want cargo being attached to the top of aircraft. lol

[@dorsk84]

There is a ton of space up there. The C-5 already has the aerodynamics of a Grand Piano, any cargo external mounting would be severely bad. Also the vertical tail control surface would be severely impacted.

[@dave23024]

So glad they have a think tank full of seven-year-olds to solve these problems. Go, go, gadget-rescue plane!

[@abmong]

Quite a few WW2 era bombers had rear wings similar to those, but none that could extend and retract as far as I know.

[@mariebcfhs9491]

the lancaster and the liberator immediately come to mind

[@abmong]

@@mariebcfhs9491Yeah I was thinking of the Lancaster

[@Pgb622]

TANDEM MAI is an example

[@JRGProjects]

The timing and type of emergency would have to be critically evaluated and timed or you could potentially lose both planes. Also this may work for the main fleet of 737s and MD-80s but I doubt a platform like this can handle a 747, 757 or 777.

[@vircervoteksisto5038]

The 727 did have an aft, ventral staircase so maybe the patenter thought that future aircraft would also possess aft, ventral staircases.

[@tsbrownie]

As a pilot, I would try to avoid burning things with failing controls, piloted by guys who probably don't do a lot of formation flying or in-flight dockings.

[@halfey]

I was about to comment about a space shuttle, but you already had that covered 👍

[@captain_commenter8796]

I don’t know how to describe it, but the plane plane looks like it’s straight outta a cartoon 😂

[@tracytron7162]

I know tons of other people have already said it, but this seriously feels like something Brains would come up with for International Rescue in Thunderbirds

[@SvdSinner]

The big problem is that economically, there would be no way for this to make sense for the extremely rare occasion it might be needed. Because if the type of emergencies this could (maybe) rescue were more common, the passenger airline industry would have crumbled years ago. And at our current rate of incidents, the gigantic amount of money needed to keep a fleet of these ready to go at a moments notice with at least one within range of the incident wherever it might be, plus the constant training needed to keep the crews ready would be absolutely insane. The costs of Operation Chrome Dome would look like pennies compared to the cost of something like this.

[@chheinrich8486]

Truely only International resue could do something like this😅

[@robertdragoff6909]

@@chheinrich8486 Thunderbird 6?

[@SinergiaAlUnisono]

True. And even as an ever flying cemetery for third party aircrafts is also not too much cost effective neither :-b

[@SinergiaAlUnisono]

Thanks for putting in text what I was kinda thinking as to why not to build it. Even though it looks so cool and yeah !, may be for a very few scenarios as may be too crowded cities and specific situations like the Hudson's miracle case... it's not of real use most of the times ... It's like thoughts of yes and no come to mind at the same time.. like the brain saying : YESN'T !!! :-b haha

[@Peizxcv]

8:44 - "you, yes, you" triggers Siri

[@monostripezebras]

I love this.. like the broklesby landing of the Avro Ansons

[@tunedskillsz]

Can anyone think of an air emergency where the plane had time to wait at least 2 hours for rescue?

[@Sashazur]

And in addition to being able to wait two hours, be unable to land by itself? Even landing with broken landing gear is safer than trying to land on another plane.

[@JasonMcCord-qk3yb]

Oh yes! This is definitely a “Bond villain” aircraft. ….” First we will capture Air Force One, then I will force the President to…..”

[@oscarolie5743]

Has there ever been someone to think about maglev-rails for taking off and landing planes?

[@AdhvaithSane]

Maglev-rails?

[@jiun88]

@@AdhvaithSanei think he means railguns

[@oscarolie5743]

Something like that: Electricity and/or magnets giving the plane thrust and brake-power... @@jiun88

[@alangamer369]

the "plane" plane is our mighty hero! man i wish that happened to me

[@HolySoliDeoGloria]

As you noted near the end: A single-engine landing performed as soon as possible would be a MUCH safer option than waiting for a rescue plane, then performing a never-before-practiced in-flight docking maneuver with another aircraft-with one inoperative engine to boot! (Not criticizing the very interesting video, just the concept.)

[@joemama069]

That's less of a patent and more of a collection of rough ideas

[@Idrizze]

Saying you my favourite youtuber takes some courage but damn you not wrong. Found the channel 2-3 weeks ago and I feel like I’ve watched half the videos so far😂

[@Prime_ashwin]

So no one gonna say that the bottom plane looks like those toy planes that are big af and wide af

[@nealsterling8151]

Fueling a Jetfighte in mid air is also awesome but they do it, because its practical use is almost invaluable. Maybe some uses of this crazy plane are less crazy as it sound at the first glance.

[@ronaldlebeck9577]

As far as for catching a disabled aircraft that might have an engine fire (or two), the rescue plane could be equipped with fire suppression equipment to put out any fires. Concerning catching a returning shuttle, that's not as far fetched as some might think. It's just essentially putting arrestor gear on a shuttle just like all Navy aircraft have (not necessarily the same design, just the same concept) for landing on a carrier. Virgin Galactic got a 747 to launch a rocket, we've had planes that caught returning film canisters from early spy satellites, We have a method for extracting military members by a cargo plane without having to land by using a balloon attached to a cable that gets caught by the plane (or helicopter) as it passes overhead and yanks the guys out (yes, this has actually been done in Vietnam using the STABO rig. So, this isn't entirely too far-fetched of an idea. I think we could do it now since we have better technology than was available at the time the original design was developed. However, it's getting investors, corporations and governments motivated to actually DO something.

[@mattkennedy6115]

As cool as the idea sounds (for catching a disabled plane anyway). The logistics are still too far fetched. The aircraft would need to (miraculously) catch up with the disabled plane and there would have to be how many of these things with a qualified crew on standby? Also, how many midair emergencies would actually warrant this? Maybe if it was stupid fast and autonomous it may work but for now it’s just a cool idea

[@Norosco4u]

Unfortunately the majority of airplane disasters happen too quickly and suddenly, making this plane useless.

[@BluD]

Seems like this rescue attempt would be riskier than just attempting to land. I suppose it depends on the incident the damaged plane was in but then again if its in bad condition to where it has bad odds of landing, itd likely be difficult to dock with this. Cool concept though.

[@FPVREVIEWS]

If you’re in distress, last thing you would want is that crazy thing flying anywhere in your airspace..🤣 Thanks for the hard laugh 😂

[@QueenSunstar]

The idea is neat. It’s the getting it to work part that needs work.

[@Razer_-fe9mo]

"There's nothing stopping you from building it today" BRB gotta get my lego.

[@AudieHolland]

As a kid, I always fancied the idea of a jumbo jet with an open air upper deck.

[@kengodson6771]

Detachable aircraft into 4 sections and attaching a parachute to each section is the way to go

[@thatoneguy4126]

I'm confident in saying shuttles were essentially gliders when coming home. Slowing one down that much would be quite scary to attempt landing on another aircraft.

[@orusandornots1915]

It's easy to list problems, it's hard to solve them. I have emense respect for the inventors who saw a problem and tried to solve it. Even, maybe even especially, when they fail because failure teaches and it's much harder to continue when everyone thinks you are a failure.

[@radotic1]

No I can see that space shuttle recovery idea working real good and it will bring a new meaning to ' Fly Fishing'😂😂😂

[@norlockv]

They used a flying booster to catch the moon shuttle in the Gerry Anderson’s UFO.

[@midnightrun5622]

I could just see the Space Shuttle (traveling a few times past the speed of sound) hooking (and then ripping) the "plane-plane" out of the sky.

[@DarkSnowGaming1]

If this was going to work, it would probably have to be the size of the AN-225.

[@thanhquanky]

Imagine airplane got towed for flying into Karen’s airspace …

[@SomeOrdinaryJanitor]

just when a design can't be weird enough... MAKE IT A VTOL

[@Johnnyynf]

hero plane isn't real, it can't save you hero plane:

[@Island_Line_Rail_Productions]

Speaking as a private pilot, If I am already in an emergency, attempting to fly formation and then land on top of another aircraft is not my idea of safe. Most planes can fly on a single engine and returning to the airport on a single engine is practiced in a sim,

[@FENRIR949]

I see two planes making babys what an advancement in technology 👏 👏

[@Interweblurker]

This would be pretty useful if an emergency landing isnt possible or if the risk incurred by the landing is too great to risk performing it over a mid air dock, besides, fighter pilots do this all the time with mid air refueling and loook at the tiny areas they have to use the dock with

[@G-Cole-01]

I guess P. Booker got into Jeff Tracy's supermethamphetamation supply

[@scottie_2024]

Bonus points for the Tamiya Extra Thin Cement substitution ;-)

[@JeffDM]

"There wouldn't be a tail except for the things I describe that are the tail"

[@S1337theoddoneout-ip9xc]

Why, why didn't you paint it olive green? That thing is Thunderbird 2, you can't argue against that. That's what Thunderbird 2 would look in real life.

[@shortshrimp]

wait for the plane plane plane, to rescue the plane planes

[@Elderslash-tb3uh]

I like the concept, if the plane cant get to the runway bring the runway to the plane,

[@johnlillyblad5188]

"We've lost our engines.. what can we do?" "Land as soon as possible?" "Yes. on another plane." hahaha

[@Progamerj175]

Just imagine if the plane carrying the plane gets an emergency 😂

[@fidem15893]

It remind me of an old serie "The Thunderbirds". 😊

[@Teqnyq]

Me: So you are Plane Plane? PP: The name's so nice, you gotta say it twice 🖐

[@pennycarvalho1223]

This is the kind stuff they would put in magazine covers saying- “this vehicle will change the outcome of the war” but the image shows like a massive vehicle that was impractical, very strange, probably not even useful.

[@absiddique139]

6:20 not a missile it's a space shuttle

[@AZcat04]

„nothing can stop you build this today“ money: are you sure about that?

[@alanguest1979]

I'm sure I can rememeber something like this in one episode of Thunderbirds!

[@hewhohasnoidentity4377]

There was a United 777 at risk of having to ditch after an engine failure on the way to Hawaii. The engine was damaged in a way that created a significant amount of drag and increased the fuel burn required to reach land. The engine failure occurred in good weather within 2 hours of Honolulu. If it had been closer to the midpoint or in bad weather there was a real risk of having to ditch and use the rafts. This would be the perfect scenario for a Plane Plane, but even in this event it is unlikely to be of any use. It would have had to be in Honolulu on alert status ready with crews to immediately depart to intercept the troubled aircraft. Even then there would be minimal chance to save the troubled aircraft. The existing plans have never had to be used but are more reasonable. Hope for calm seas, have resources already on the way to the ditching location and put it in the water and hope for the best. It is really a miracle that there has only been one close call in the history of allowing twin engine aircraft to fly over oceans.

[@bigz4302]

The tri-jet shall soon return

[@baileyayyy5085]

"fk it make them vtol" seems like a running theme for the era lmao

[@KashifNawaz85]

Imagine how big a carrier plane which carry A380.

[@Ryuu1010YT]

it would not fit because it's too wide and too big

[@joshuabessire9169]

Seems like an overcomplicated way to end Steven Seagal.

[@chheinrich8486]

😂😂😂 executive decision

[@Napoleon1815-l8c]

Interesting idea, but I feel like the rescue version would not work. I just feel like too many midair collisions would occur.

[@pw6002]

It’s already difficult for a damaged plane to land on good old ground. I cannot figure it out how a damaged plane would manage to dock midair to another plane without… further damage.

[@Wes-u7y]

Reminds me of the SHADO lunar module carrier from UFO

[@kellyabercrombie9769]

I’ll get right to work on it.

[@mathewgarrard3621]

Looks so cool I'd love to see it for real. I can also see it as a thunderbirds craft 👍👍👍👍

[@KullyIC]

This is an insane Jack of all trade but master of none concept. It's very creative but not very feasible. The maintenance alone on this aircraft would be astronomical. As for rescue, It would be way to dangerous to be worth the risk of losing another aircraft. It could be useful to transport other aircraft, But there are other Specialised aircraft that can do that job better and cheaper. The space shuttle idea, wouldn't work. The shuttle HAS to travel that fast to have lift. If it's slowed, It will stall. "It's like flying a brick with wings" -Jack “Trip” Nickel But It is pretty cool to see the concept. Even if It wouldn't be possible.

[@mirthenary]

Even planes want to get some Mile High action

[@rawcado]

Only one problem, a boat boat and a car truck makes the concept APPEAR viable, but they don't load them while under way, they load them first and then take off.

[@angelkilier]

The biggest issue about in flight rescue isn't even safely catching the plane. Rather, how fast does it have to fly to reach a plane that's falling out of the sky in any random location in time.