Two of the most weird looking aircraft ever devised were actually immensely valuable in the development of the Hawker Harrier Jump Jet and in the training of astronauts!  This is the story of two flying bedsteads!

The NASA Lunar Landing Research Vehicle.

The original flying bedstead, more properly known as the Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Disney, User:Geni and NASA.