Military Application
Despite its distinct advantages push-pull configurations are rare in military aircraft. This is mainly due to the increased risk to the pilot in the case of a crash-landing or the need to parachute from the plane. In a crash the rear engine threatens to kill the pilot by crushing him between itself and the forward engine; in the case of bailing-out the pilot is in danger of hitting the rear propeller. Examples of past military applications include the late WWII Dornier Do 335 heavy fighter, which included a jettisonable tail to facilitate bailing out, and the Cessna O-2, a militarised version of the Skymaster used for observation and forward air control during the Vietnam war.
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