For a time in the early 1950s, a small number of U.S. military pilots were able to claim their job was to fly experimental aircraft powered by ramjets that created streaks of flame and lit up the night sky. This undoubtedly created visions of sleek, supersonic machines such as the F-104 Starfighter and the F-106 Delta Dart, earning admiration and street cred in bars surrounding their respective bases. The bar patrons would surely have been transfixed.
Had they asked the pilots a few additional questions, however, the complete picture would have been revealed. They’d have learned that the aircraft type in question was a tiny helicopter called the Hiller Hornet. It utilized two ramjet engines to achieve a top speed of just 62 knots and had a maximum range of less than 30 miles. While perhaps not as flashy as the aforementioned supersonic interceptors, some might argue that it took more guts to fly the Hornet.
