Keywords: SNECMA Coléoptère on ramp 1959.jpg The French SNECMA Coléoptère vertical take-off aircraft which first flew on 6 May 1959 It was a single-person aircraft with an annular wing designed to land vertically therefore requiring no runway and very little space to take-off There were several prototypes developed and tested however the design proved to be very unstable and flying it was dangerous U S Navy Naval Aviation News October 1959 http //www history navy mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1959/Oct59 pdf p 24 1959 USN PD-USGov-Military-Navy SNECMA Coléoptère |