In an attempt to create a smaller, lighter, more fuel efficient aircraft, two university professors designed a sleek-looking aircraft with a shortened tail and crooked wings, bearing resemblance to a seagull. But the thing is, it was kind of unintentional.
According to the designers, Joachim Huyssen Geoffrey Spedding, the look came together on its own as they implemented "the basic principles of aerodynamics." Livescience says that the gullwing configuration allows for the pitch stability of the plane to be controlled by the wings, instead of the tail. This, in turn, let them shorten the plane fuselage creating a more aerodynamic craft. While still in the concept stage, the two have begun presenting their design in public. [LiveScience]