Do (did) powered airplanes exist where pilots are not in a seated position?

Question

Well... all is said in the title. I mean "traditional" powered airplane, with a cockpit and long flight capable, not a paraglider.

Upright pilot or prone pilot would qualify. Likely experimental or military.

The concept was once studied with the XF-90, but didn't get to reality.

If you count hang gliders and weight-shift as aircraft, then there are quite a few :) — Ron Beyer, Dec 21 '16 at 21:14
If you mean airplanes versus aircraft you might want to edit. Also, do you mean still flying or any historic airplane/craft? — GdD, Dec 21 '16 at 21:15
Also see this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prone-pilot_aircraft — Ron Beyer, Dec 21 '16 at 21:16
@RonBeyer Not strictly an aircraft, but a powered flying machine. I see your Wright Flyer and raise you the Lunar Excursion Module — Simon, Dec 21 '16 at 21:42
@Simon I think you win, the LEM is probably the longest distance manned flying machine ever created :) — Ron Beyer, Dec 21 '16 at 21:49
@mins With tongue in cheek, there are several types of flying machine that do not require aerodynamic lift. Consider the Giffard dirigible for example. — Simon, Dec 21 '16 at 22:02
Most modern airliners could be fitted with a couch or beanbags for pilot comfort in flight, but it looks much more professional to sit up looking forwards at the clouds. — Rich, Dec 22 '16 at 02:16
@Martheen Obviously, the pilots would merely have to buckle down in their beanbags before they encounter turbulence. — user, Dec 22 '16 at 10:28

score 28 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:59

In the first ones the pilot was rarely sitting. Inspired by ships, some early aviators steered their craft by standing upright:

Almost all balloons were and still are flown standing upright. Same goes for all Zeppelins, and they should qualify as powered aircraft.
All Lilienthal glider designs required the pilot to stick the forearm through a tube and grab a horizontal bar, so his weight would rest on the forearm. Steering was done by swinging the legs left or right rsp. back or forward. The legs also doubled as the landing gear, much like in modern hang gliders. Lilienthal experimented with carbon dioxide engines, so some of his gliders can be called powered.
Gustave Whitehead's Number 21 design of 1901 was flown standing upright, but it is disputed that he actually flew it successfully.
The early Wright Flyers were flown in a prone position. Sitting came later.
The Santos-Dumont 14bis of 1906 was flown standing upright. Similarly to the Wrights, Santos-Dumont's later designs like the Demoisielle had a proper seat.

_{Santos-Dumont training to fly his 14bis (picture source)}

The Horten gliders were flown in a prone position so the pilot would present a lower cross section. The Horten IIId was a motor glider version using a 32hp Volkswagen engine, so this should count as powered, too.
Before anti-g suits were perfected, some designs used a prone pilot position to increase the possible g loads. Here is an answer which covers this aspect.
René Leduc's ramjet-powered experimental aircraft used an almost lying position for the pilot to keep the cross section of the centerbody small.

_{Yvan Littolff in the cockpit of the Leduc 021 (picture source)}

Most hang gliders use a prone or almost lying position for reducing the drag the pilot causes. The powered ones should also qualify here. Same goes for motor gliders derived from sailplanes, where the pilot position is almost lying, too.

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 21 '16 at 21:16

4

Yes, but probably not what you have in mind.

The Hiller Pawnee had the pilot in a standing position.

Some weight-shift hang glider pilots are prone.

Hot air balloon pilots stand up.

answered Dec 21 '16 at 21:16

Dan Pichelman

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 22 '16 at 06:50

1

I would also submit the Henschel Hs-132

Never flew, but four were built.

Based on the Volksjager

WW2 had the most gorgeous aircraft.....now everything is all angles and who can lock on and fire their missiles first.....

answered Dec 22 '16 at 06:50

NZKshatriya

1

The Hs-132 was an independent design and quite different from the He-162. Only the configuration was the same. – Peter Kämpf Dec 22 '16 at 08:23

3 Answers3