Quote Originally Posted by gray View Post
This plane was a suggestion by Paul, who thought it was an interesting design. Thanks Paul, it was an neat looking little aircraft. My only complaint for the design was it should have had retractable landing gear.
Super job Gray, thanks for doing it.

I suspect that given that it was a research aircraft for VTOL and nothing else, the pilots felt it would be wise to have the landing gear deployed at all times! I know that the early Harriers had a nickname of the "widowmaker" so I think always having the undercarriage ready might have made them a bit happier. Who knows.

I love the look of the plane, very 1950's and you could put it straight into a Dan Dare story.