In the 1950s, the U.S. military envisioned a game-changing fighter jet—the Bell D-188, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft with eight jet engines. Designed to operate from remote locations ...

He explained a potential scenario: "They're low, they're slow, landing gear down. This is that aerodynamic rock, so once that rolls off on a wing, nose gets down. That's why you saw it accelerate and ...