I used to read every Pop. Science, Mechanics, Mechanics Illustrated, and others like them I could get my hands on. I've got stacks of them out in the upstairs of my garage going back to the early 50s.
Every month they'd have a weird idea, or solution to a problem. Most of them unworkable.
One was a sort of tug to assist airliners on takeoff, except the tug pushed from the rear.
But that 3 carriers in a row has to take the award for wackiest.