Lego pictures for posterity - aircraft
Blue Viper
This jet has angle plates that let you attach pieces to the sides. The wings are tail pieces that appear in big airliner sets. The nose is made out of slope pieces turned on their sides. The canopy is attached in a competely different way to other aircraft. A 1x2 clip plate is attached to an angle plate so the clips point upwards.
Hovercopter
James modified the hovercopter to make it sleeker at the back.
James modified the hovercopter to make it sleeker at the back.
Hovercopter
Forward-swept wing based on the X-29 Grumman
Swiftjet
This diminutive rocket plane's wings look like a swift's wings when the bird is in flight. This aircraft is based on the small jet in Lego Agents set 8635.
Aircraft hangar
Created by James 8 5/6.
Created by James 8 5/6.
X-1 rocket jet plane
X-2 rocket jet plane
White Dart
The dart aircraft can separate from the wings! This small aircraft was built using a car chassis. Why use a car chassis? Because it makes you think creatively and hopefully helps you produce something completely different.
Seaplane
Stunt seaplane with pontoons.
James' autogyro aircraft
James built this page when he was 7 3/4. It has not just a rear propeller but also rotor blades, so it can take off vertically. An aircraft with a propeller and rotor blades for vertical flight is called an autogyro or gyroplane or gyrocopter.
Modern autogyros have rotor blades on top and a rear propeller. The propeller causes the autogyro to go forwards. As the autogyro moves along, the air rushes past the rotor blades. The rushing air causes the rotor blades to spin round and lift the autogyro up into the air. The rotor blades continue to spin round when the autogyro is in the sky.
Team Jamdrew - super copter
James and Uncle Andrew (team Jamdrew) built this helicopter quickly one day in September 2015. It has two angle plates so the jet engines can fit on the sides. It also has a turntable so the rotor blades can spin around.
The Primo plane Mk I
This is James' first plane with a roof that he designed and built without any help. He created the plane in May 2015 when he was 7 1/2.
It's called the Primo as 'primo' means 'first' in Italian. The Italian for 'well done!' is 'bravo!'
It's got a front propeller and canards. It also has room for one pilot. The side panels create space for the pilot's arms so he can fit snugly into the cockpit. Best of all, it's robust, which means it's strong and won't fall apart easily.
It's called the Primo as 'primo' means 'first' in Italian. The Italian for 'well done!' is 'bravo!'
It's got a front propeller and canards. It also has room for one pilot. The side panels create space for the pilot's arms so he can fit snugly into the cockpit. Best of all, it's robust, which means it's strong and won't fall apart easily.
The Primo Mk II
James built this plane in August 2016 when he was 8 5/6. He built it by modifying the Primo Mk I. The lower roof makes the aircraft more aerodynamic as air can pass over it more easily. The hinged roof makes the cockpit easily accessible. Although it doesn't have canards, it has a bigger T-tail.
As Primo is an Italian word we should say the Italian for 'well done!' which is 'bravo!'
As Primo is an Italian word we should say the Italian for 'well done!' which is 'bravo!'
The Skylark Mark I
This small jet plane has twin booms.
The Skylark jet plane Mark II
Mark II has a different wing design. No other plane has this wing design so the wing design is unique.
Swissair passenger plane
This plane has room for one pilot and three passengers. It has two rows of plates between the base bricks and the nose brick. This is because we need one row for the wings and another row for a tile for the side windows to rest on. This gives us enough space to attach a plate under the windows to join them together.
Bellego X-22
This aircraft uses four fans (a type of propeller). Each fan is inside an open cylinder called a duct. The four fans can move. They can face in any direction between being straight up and straight ahead. Moving this way is called tilting so the plane is called a tilt-rotor aircraft.
It also has two jet engines. These can tilt as well.
The aircraft can take off straight up and land straight down. This is called VTOL which is short for Vertical Take-Off and Landing.
This aircraft looks similar to the Bell X-22A on the experimental aircraft page.
It also has two jet engines. These can tilt as well.
The aircraft can take off straight up and land straight down. This is called VTOL which is short for Vertical Take-Off and Landing.
This aircraft looks similar to the Bell X-22A on the experimental aircraft page.
Tiltrotor with ducted fans
This aircraft uses two fans (a type of propeller) inside an open cylinder called a duct. The two fans can move. They can face in any direction between being straight up and straight ahead. Moving this way is called tilting so the plane is called a tilt-rotor aircraft.
The aircraft can take off straight up and land straight down. This is called VTOL which is short for Vertical Take-Off and Landing.
The aircraft can take off straight up and land straight down. This is called VTOL which is short for Vertical Take-Off and Landing.
Small cargo plane
This cargo plane has two propellers. It also has two booms. The booms are attached to the wings and are joined together at the back. We call this a twin boom.
The plane has a door at the back. The door moves down and acts a ramp. The door is a normal hinged plate but the plate is joined to the hinge upside down. The plane has two special sloped pieces at the back. These pieces are quite rare.
The plane has a door at the back. The door moves down and acts a ramp. The door is a normal hinged plate but the plate is joined to the hinge upside down. The plane has two special sloped pieces at the back. These pieces are quite rare.
Business aircraft (1818)
The plane is based on the Beechcraft Starship, which was a type of plane that just carried business owners or important people who ran businesses. It may have carried the boss of the Lego company and his important workers who helped him run the business.
The plane has two small wings at the front and two big wings at the back. Its two propeller engines are at the back. These rear propellers push the plane forwards. Instead of a tail at the back, the plane has a winglet at the end of each wing.
The plane has two small wings at the front and two big wings at the back. Its two propeller engines are at the back. These rear propellers push the plane forwards. Instead of a tail at the back, the plane has a winglet at the end of each wing.
The small front wings are called canards. On a real plane the canards can move. The tips can point out to the side and move back so they are pointing diagonally.
Canard is a French word that means duck. Many years ago a French person thought one of the first planes to have these front wings looked like a duck. Then more and more people said canard until everyone did.
Canard is a French word that means duck. Many years ago a French person thought one of the first planes to have these front wings looked like a duck. Then more and more people said canard until everyone did.
Stunt plane
Uncle Andrew made a stunt plane. It has a dome canopy over the cockpit. This plane is similar to James' stunt plane (set 60019). The last few pictures show this white stunt plane next to James' stunt plane.
The smallest Lego plane with an enclosed cockpit
This plane is called a flying boat. The fuselage floats on the water, so it is like a boat's hull. Pontoons - also called floats - help the plane to float and stop it from tipping over.
Red Cross air ambulance helicopter
This helicopter can carry two patients: one patient on a stretcher on each side of the helicopter.
Skycrane
This enormous helicopter can carry heavy cargo. It has three winches. Each winch can be attached to a platform with cargo on it. It needs three so it can safely carry the cargo in the air. It doesn't have to use the winches. Instead, a cargo container can be attached to the underside of the Skycrane.
The Skycrane can even put out fires by dumping water on the fire from high above. It uses a large special container of water attached to its underside. The pilot can push a button that opens the doors on the underside of the container and lets out the water.
The Dragonfly - flying car
This Lego plane's wings fold back so it can drive through Lego city! The Dragonfly needs hinges for the wings to move. There are two hinges on each side. One is on the top and one is on the bottom of the wing. The plane also needs tiles. This is because the wings need to sit on the tiles when the wings are out to the side. Because tiles are smooth the wings can move off the tiles when the wings need to fold back.
Small two-seater jet plane
If Lego figures have hair or wear a hat they are too tall for this plane. You wouldn't be able to close the hinged roof because it would hit their heads first. So only bald Lego figures can fit inside the small cockpit! The last 2 pictures show how to make the bottom of the plane.
Plane with a single propeller
The propeller is turned by the engine, which is behind the propeller. The special black plates behind the propeller are meant to look like part of the engine. These black plates can also be used for a Lego spider's legs!
Solo trainer (6673)
This is one of James' presents for his 7th birthday. The wings are fixed to the roof of the plane. The roof is hinged. The pilot gets in by opening the hinged roof. This set was first sold in 1990. It is 26 years old!
James and Uncle Andrew made another plane that is almost the same shape. James practised making this type of plane to help him on his way to becoming a master Lego plane builder.
James and Uncle Andrew made another plane that is almost the same shape. James practised making this type of plane to help him on his way to becoming a master Lego plane builder.
Small turboprop plane
The bottom of this plane is different from the solo trainer. Instead of sloped bricks above the rear wheels there are ordinary plates.
Twin-boom jet plane
Most Lego planes use special parts for the bottom of the plane. This plane uses an ordinary but large plate. This plane is fast but is is slower than the speed of sound. We call this subsonic. This means it cannot fly 760 miles in 60 minutes (760 miles per hour).
Plane with rear propeller and twin booms
Medical emergency plane
Set 6356 was one of James' 7th birthday presents. The plane has room for a pilot, a medic and one patient on a stretcher. The rear door can be opened to take a patient onto the plane. The plane has 4 propeller engines and twin booms.
This plane by Uncle Andrew is based on set 6356 Med-Star rescue plane. It was made when James' plane was dismantled.
Seaplane with propellers and a rocket engine
This is a seaplane because it has two pontoons. The plane uses the pontoons to float on water. The plane has three propellers. Two are on the wings, and one is at the back. The front propellers pull the plane through the air. The rear propeller pushes the plane through the air. Uncle Andrew added a rocket engine at the back so the plane can quickly get to the speed it needs to take off. This is important if the plane is on a small lake. The plane has twin booms to allow space for the hot gas to come out of the rocket.
Jet plane with a delta wing
This plane's wings look a bit like a triangle. When a plane's wing is in the shape of triangle it is called a delta wing. The plane also has a dome canopy over the cockpit.
This plane is supersonic. This means it can fly faster than the speed of sound. The speed of sound is called Mach 1. High up in the sky, sound travels at about 660 miles per hour. So this jet plane can fly faster than 660 miles per hour. Its top speed is Mach 1.5.
This plane is supersonic. This means it can fly faster than the speed of sound. The speed of sound is called Mach 1. High up in the sky, sound travels at about 660 miles per hour. So this jet plane can fly faster than 660 miles per hour. Its top speed is Mach 1.5.
Jet with a T-tail
The jet's tail is in the shape of T.
The jet's tail is in the shape of T.
Nighthawk jet plane
This plane has a better jet engine than the delta wing plane above. So it can fly faster. It can fly 1,400 miles per hour. This is more than two times the speed of sound. Two times the speed of sound is called Mach 2.
Delta-wing rocket plane
This Lego plane has a rocket engine. It is the fastest and highest flying Lego aircraft. It can fly 4,500 mph, which is over 6 times the speed of sound. The pilot is an astronaut because they have earned 'Astronaut Wings' by flying 50 miles above the ground. They have even flown over 62 miles above the ground, which is the edge of space.
This plane's wings look a bit like a triangle. When a plane's wing is in the shape of triangle it is called a delta wing.
There are two versions. One has a cockpit only big enough for one pilot. The other has room for two people.
This plane's wings look a bit like a triangle. When a plane's wing is in the shape of triangle it is called a delta wing.
There are two versions. One has a cockpit only big enough for one pilot. The other has room for two people.
Flying boat
This aircraft is a flying boat because its fuselage floats like a boat. It has a pontoon under each wing to keep the wings out of the water. The flying boat's wings are hinged in the middle. When the wings are upright the flying boat is much narrower and it can dock in small ports where passengers and cargo can come on and off.
It has room for one pilot and two passengers. There's a huge space to hold cargo at the back of the plane.
It has room for one pilot and two passengers. There's a huge space to hold cargo at the back of the plane.
Folding wing plane
Huge helicopter with skids
Small jet passenger plane
Uncle Andrew built two types. One had hinged wings.
Tiltrotor plane with skids
One of Uncle Andrew's first efforts at making an unusual plane. The tilt rotors didn't really work because the rotor engine bricks kept falling off the wing when you tilted the rotors up and down.
Plane with a single propeller - Mark I
Uncle Andrew didn't have all the parts he needed at the time. So he had to improvise. He had to use a bracket to attach the propeller to the nose, which looks strange. Also he had run out of plane wheels so he had to use car wheels at the rear. He had to make the fuselage higher than he wanted to reduce the amount the bracket stuck out above the plane's nose. This model looks worse than the Mark II plane.
Plane with a single propeller - Mark II
Uncle Andrew had all the pieces he needed. The most important piece he needed was a brick with a pin on its side. This brick goes at the front so the pin faces forwards. The propeller slots onto the pin and it can spin. This model looks better than the Mark I plane.