The Tartaruga Volante, or ‘Flying Turtle’, was an unconventional fighter prototype developed in the late 1940s. Powered by 3 license-built BMW 003 turbojets and an auxiliary boost rocket, The Tartaruga Volante never entered widespread service due to the complexity of maintaining operational readiness.
A number of unorthodox features enabled the aircraft to dive into the ocean for short bursts. The structural loading while entering water at high speed, and enduring the pressure while immersed was significant, and the aircraft was heavy for a fighter. Accordingly, it found more success as a survey craft, and was heavily modified for later civilian use. Most variants had undercarriage removed for lightness, and operated purely from water.
