A French VTOL attempt, the SNECMA C.450 Coléoptère (beetle) surrounded its pilot and turbojet engine within an annular wing. It first flew in December 1958, but crashed on July 25, 1959, badly injuring its pilot. O The Hiller X-18 Propelloplane was another attempt at a tilt-wing VTOL cargo plane. Conceived in 1955, it first flew in 1959, but propeller pitch problems resulting in near-disaster led to its grounding in 1961. (Alamy)

Alamy