50 Strangest Aircraft Ever Made

X-36 Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraft

NASA Photo / Tony Landis

The McDonnell Douglas X-36 Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraft was an American prototype jet designed to fly without a traditional tail assembly. Its first flight was in May 1997. It is now retired. But not before it set records and spurred on further innovation that is currently patrolling the skies today.