Five Twin Pushers You’ve Never Heard of

Presenting five unique twin-engine aircraft with pusher configurations, which you’ve probably never heard of. OMA Sud Skycar 00:08 Oma Sud, an Italian firm initially subcontracting for Boeing and Airbus, ventured into aircraft manufacturing with the Skycar. Designed for luxury, it features a spacious cabin with fine Italian leather seats, accommodating five passengers. The Skycar, a high-wing monoplane with twin Lycoming IO-360 engines, stands out with twin vertical tails and a unique rear door for mid-flight operations. Softex V24 02:11 The Softex V24, reminiscent of a mini Honda Jet, boasts an innovative design with twin pusher engines atop each wing, a T-tail, and sleek winglets, resembling a small business jet. Its luxurious cabin suggests a high-end market aim, but its exact target segment remains unclear—whether a luxury craft or a light twin trainer. Featuring a Cirrus-like integrated BRS parachute for safety, its market presence is uncertain. A prototype crash in Montana and its social media nickname, “The Flying Dream,“ hint at its elusive status, with no recent updates. EM-11 Orka 03:53 The EM-11 Orka, designed by glider expert Edward Margański, mirrors the elegant lines of a high-performance sailplane, with a design somewhat akin to a smaller Piaggio Avanti. Launched in 2001 and first flown in 2003, Margański’s vision for the Orka was a “flying limousine,“ combining luxury with efficiency. Its seating, reminiscent of a sports car, aimed to reduce drag by lowering the aircraft’s profile. Initially powered by Rotax 912s and with fixed landing gear for two passengers, later models upgraded to 160hp Lycoming IO-320 engines, retractable gear, and four seats, with some featuring a T-tail. Piaggio P166 05:46 The Piaggio P166, a notable yet less-known aircraft, shares lineage with the Avanti and stands out with its gull-wing design and robust fuselage. Originating as the P136 Royal Gull amphibian, it transitioned into the land-only P166, gaining significant cabin space and enhanced power. Designed to carry up to nine passengers or substantial cargo, it featured various geared Lycoming engines, later upgraded in the 1970s to Lycoming turboprops. The Italian Coast Guard employed these upgraded versions for extended surveillance missions, thanks to their large tip tanks providing up to nine hours of endurance. Although its rugged landing gear was effective on rough runways, its somewhat limited power and need for longer takeoff distances earned it the affectionate nickname “the Pig“ among pilots. Avtek 400A 07:47 The Avtek 400A, a twin pusher aircraft powered by 680 horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6 engines, is distinguished by its striking and innovative design. Featuring a canard atop its fuselage and low-set wings with pusher propellers, it offered enhanced cabin space and reduced noise for passengers. The 400A boasted impressive performance, with a 240-knot cruising speed at 41,000 feet, a 4,500 feet per minute climb rate, and a 2,200 nautical mile range. However, the 400A never advanced beyond the prototype stage. The only prototype remains at Camarillo airport in California, unlikely to fly again. I love producing these videos! If you have any recommendations for other odd or unusual designs, drop them in the comments below and I’ll throw them in the mix. I don’t own these clips. All rights are reserved to their respective owners, and used with prior approval. Creative common videos are also utilized. If your clip is included and you’d like it removed, please email me, and we’ll address the matter right away. richard@