It was the Argentinian colours on the tail that set me on the trail…

I’ll have a go

Why were the wings on different levels?

for flying round corners?

That bit on the thunderscreech reminds me of Chuck Yeagers Right Stuff book, where he’s talking about all the prototypes that appeared at Edwards Airforce base – literally daily something else would appear and need flying. Sounds amazing.

Another one for you

Why were the wings on different levels?

Another bonkers Arado…

wings at different levels to fold over

Tom’s is one of the Russian designs from the captured ME163 rockets…

can’t remember the name for the life of me though

Back in the 90s I was working in Moscow with a bunch of ex-KGB and ex-space program people. I got taken round the Air Force museum outside Moscow in the middle of winter. They had one of everything ever built by the Soviets including a Mig 15? with skid undercarriage for snow “or mud”. Balls of steel to land a jet on skis on mud!

BTW, my boss was a recent ex-KGB Colonel and one of the nicest guys I’ve ever worked for.

Thought for a second Tom’s photo might have been a variant of an Okha kamikazi plane, then I noticed the Soviet red star on the tail stub fin, so now I’m again stumped.
Ah, Bi-1 Soviet rocket plane, crashed on first flight, killing pilot, reason unknown as both pilot and plane lost.
Still, it apparently hit 800kph, so not all bad… 😉

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bereznyak-Isayev_BI-1

Is the second one an Ilyushin 102?

Beakers is an Ilyushin Il-102….which is a much more modern plane than people expect…..given its 50’s look.