V/STOL: The First Half-Century

by Michael J. Hirschberg
Fifty years ago the first groun! tests "ere con!ucte! for "hat "oul! beco#e a long heritage of Vertical an! Short Ta$e-Off an! Lan!ing %V/STOL&
aircraft. Since then '( !ifferent ty)es ha*e been built an! teste!. The "heel of V/STOL Aircraft and Propulsion Concepts sho"s all the !ifferent
#etho!s that ha*e been trie! to co#bine the *ertical flight ability of the helico)ter "ith a high for"ar! s)ee! of fi+e! "ing aircraft. Of all these atte#)ts
so far only three aircraft the Harrier the Forger an! the Os)rey ha*e been !e*elo)e! for o)erational ser*ice, only the Harrier is o)erational to!ay
"ith the Os)rey !ue to enter ser*ice in -.... The Joint Stri$e Fighter %JSF& /rogra# ho"e*er is no" !e*elo)ing t"o V/STOL aircraft "hich "ill
!e#onstrate their )ro)ulsion conce)ts in -..., one of these conce)ts "ill be selecte! for !e*elo)#ent as an o)erational aircraft to re)lace the Harrier
in the ne+t century.
V/STOL: The First Half-Century
SAME PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR HOVER AND FORWARD FLIGHT
This class of aircraft uses a single propulsion system that alters the direction of thrust for hover or cruise, or alters the attitude of the aircraft itself.
Aircraft !"# rotated their po$erplants, $hereas all other aircraft in this $heel %ept their engines stationary &e'cept ()*, the V+ "*"C, $hich rotated
four of its si' engines,.
Tilt Shaft/Rotor
These aircraft are convertiplanes using rotating -lades that function li%e rotors in vertical flight and li%e propellers in for$ard flight. The rotors are long
articulated -lades $hich have cyclic pitch control for hover. The po$erplants remain stationary $ith the po$er shaft pivoting from vertical to hori.ontal.
1. Tra!"#$#tal Mo$#l 1G
The Transcen!ental 0ircraft Co#)any "as for#e! by for#er /iasec$i "or$ers in 12'3 to in*estigate tilting rotor technology. 4t built the single-seat o)en
coc$)it Mo!el 15 in 1231. The 15 suffere! fro# !yna#ic stability )roble#s that "ere !eter#ine! to be fun!a#ental to the tilting rotor conce)t so the
0ir Force fun!e! research on rotors in transition inclu!ing gyrosco)ic effects an! obli6ue airflo". The 15 then #a!e its first flight %as a helico)ter& on 7
July 123' an! #a!e its first con*ersion to hori8ontal flight that 9ece#ber. 0 single 17. h) Lyco#ing O--2.-0 engine )o"ere! three-bla!e! 1: ft rotors
at each "ingti). The )iston engine ha! a #anual t"o-s)ee! re!uction bo+ that )o"ere! shafts !o"n each "ing. 0t the )i*ot three concentric shafts
su))lie! in)ut to the rotors for tilt angle cyclic )itch an! collecti*e )itch. 0t the #a+i#u# engine s)ee! of (... r)# rotor s)ee! for ho*er "as -'.
r)# "hile for hori8ontal flight they rotate! at 7(( r)#. The rotors re6uire! three #inutes to transition through ;-< of tilt !uring con*ersion inclu!ing the
gear change. The 1:3. lb %fully loa!e!& 15 ha! a -7 ft long fuselage an! a "ings)an of -1 ft. The height "as only : ft, in fact the 15 "as so s#all
the )ilot=s hea! rose abo*e the "in!screen %see )hoto&. The 15 fle" o*er 1.. flights an! -. hours before being lost in an acci!ent on -. July 1233 !ue
to a rotor control #echanical failure. To) s)ee! "as about 17. #)h. 0 '... lb Mo!el - "ith a -3. h) engine "as teste! in 1237-3: but the 0ir Force
!eci!e! to not fun! it further in or!er to )ursue the co#)eting >ell ?V-(.
%. &#ll 'V()
One of the foun!ers of Transcen!ental left to ta$e the lea! on the !esign of the >ell ?V-( "hich began un!er a @oint 0r#y-0ir Force )rogra# in 1231.
The ?V-( use! the reliable '3. h) /ratt A Bhitney C-2;3 ra!ial engine #ate! to a t"o-s)ee! #anual gearbo+ si#ilar in )rinci)al to that of the
Transcen!ental 15. The fuselage "as (. ft long an! ha! a (1 ft "ing s)an. 4t #a!e its first flight as a helico)ter in 0ugust 1233 but crashe! t"o
#onths later before co#)leting a full con*ersion. D+tensi*e "in! tunnel an! rig tests "ere con!ucte! after this "ith )ilots )racticing the con*ersion
)rocess an! gear changes %"hich re6uire! significant #ani)ulation of the )itch an! throttle controls an! too$ about -. secon!s& in the tunnel. Cotor
instability concerns le! to a change fro# -( ft three-bla!e! full-articulate! rotors to -' ft t"o-bla!e! se#i-rigi! rotors. The secon! ?V-( #a!e its first
flight on 1- 9ece#ber 123; "ith a full con*ersion only 7 !ays later. Con*ersions o*er the full 2.< coul! be con!ucte! in 1. secon!s. 4na!e6uate
)o"er an! high "eight gro"th )reclu!e! the ?V-( fro# ho*ering out of groun! effect. The ?V-( #a!e 11. full con*ersions an! o*er -3. flights before it
"as !a#age! in a "in! tunnel test in 1273 "hen a rotor housing se)arate! fro# the aircraft. The e@ection seats "ere than$fully ne*er nee!e!: they
e@ecte! !o"n"ar!.
Tilt Pro*
This is -asically the same as the tilt shaft/rotor concept, -ut $ith propellers instead of rotors. A propeller, $ith collective -ut not cyclic pitch control, has
short, rigid -lades $ith a high degree of t$ist.
). +,rti!!(Wri-ht '(1..
The ?-1.. "as built )ri#arily to flight test Curtiss-Bright=s conce)t of using )ro)eller Era!ial forceE instea! of "ing lift for con*entional flight. This
)heno#enon )ro!uces a large force at right angles to the airflo" as the )ro)eller angle of attac$ is increase!. The ?-1.. use! a ;7. bh) fuselage-
#ounte! Lyco#ing FT3(-L-1 !ri*ing cross-shafts for the 1. ft !ia#eter tilting fiberglass )ro)ellers at the "ingti)s. 0t the rear of its -' ft fuselage
engine e+haust "as use! for )itch an! ya" control in ho*er, roll control "as )ro*i!e! by !ifferential )ro)eller )itch. Bings)an "as 17 ft an! gross
"eight "as (3.. lb. The ?-1.. first ho*ere! in free flight in Se)te#ber 1232 an! #a!e its first short ta$e-off an! lan!ing flight on March 127.. 4ts first
%an! only& transition fro# *ertical to hori8ontal "as )erfor#e! in 0)ril 127.. Control in ho*er "as "ea$ !ue to the lo" e+haust gas *elocity. Testing
continue! until October 1271 sufficiently )ro*ing the Tilt /ro) conce)t to the e+tent necessary to )rocee! "ith "hat "oul! beco#e the ?-12.
/. +,rti!!(Wri-ht '(10
Gsing the ra!ial force lift conce)t )ro*en by the ?-1.. Curtiss-Bright !esigne! a si+-)assenger ci*il e+ecuti*e trans)ort originally !esignate! the ?-
-... 0s )art of the 0r#y/Ha*y/0ir Force Tri-Ser*ice 0ssault Trans)ort /rogra# the 0ir Force contracte! for con*ersion of t"o )rototy)es !esignate!
?-12 e+tensi*ely #o!ifie! for #ilitary re6uire#ents "ith e@ection seats rescue hoist #oc$ refueling )robe an! a fuselage stretch for i#)ro*e!
)assenger access. The '' ft long aircraft "as )o"ere! by t"o Lyco#ing T33-L-: turboshaft engines )ro!ucing -73. sh) each. 0t the en! of each
tan!e# "ing "as a 1( ft three-bla!e! "i!e chor! high t"ist )ro)eller. 4n or!er to eli#inate gyrosco)ic an! tor6ue effects )ro)ellers locate! !iagonally
rotate! in the sa#e !irection. Coll )itch an! ya" "ere all controlle! by !ifferential )ro)eller )itch. D#)ty "eight as flo"n reache! 1.... lb an! gross
"eight o*er 1-... lb. The first aircraft ho*ere! on -. Ho*e#ber 127( but suffere! a har! lan!ing. 4t "as re)aire! but )roble#s "ith the control
syste# an! a series of #echanical )roble#s )lague! the )rogra#. On -3 0ugust 1273 a trans#ission )art failure cause! an asy##etric lift situation
"hich allo"e! the cre" to *ali!ate the o)eration of their e@ection seats. Bhen the )rogra# "as cancele! four #onths later the first aircraft ha! #a!e
3. flights but for a total of only four hours. The secon! aircraft "as ne*er flo"n.
Tilt D,"t!
Putting a propeller inside a duct can produce as great as a /*0 thrust increase due to the 1ernoulli 2ffect, and also provide additional lift in for$ard
flight. Propeller pitch as $ell as deflector vanes in the do$n$ash can control the aircraft in hover and transition.
1. Doa2 13 V4(/
The 9oa$ 17 "hich recei*e! the 0r#y !esignation VI-' "as built in 123:. 4t "as (- ft long ha! a gross "eight of (-.. lb a tan!e# t"o-seat coc$)it
an! a 17 ft "ings)an. Dach "ing en!e! in eight-bla!e! ' ft "i!e )ro)ellers "ithin tilting !ucts, they "ere )o"ere! by a single ;7. bh) Lyco#ing FT3(
engine. The first flight "as #a!e on -3 February 123;. Transition fro# ho*er to -.. $t coul! be #a!e in less than -. secon!s. Variable inlet gui!e
*anes controlle! roll in ho*er an! engine e+haust gases "ere !eflecte! at the rear of the fuselage for )itch an! ya" control. 9eceleration an! !escent
ha! to be carefully controlle! in or!er to )re*ent the li) of the !uct fro# stalling as "ell as to #anage a large u)"ar! )itching #o#ent fro# the !ucts
acting as a "ing at a high angle of attac$. The 9oa$ 17 suffere! fro# a lac$ of control )o"er but co#)lete! o*er 3. hours of testing an! )ro*e! the
feasibility of the tilt !uct conce)t.
3. &#ll '(%%A
The ?---0 "as the Ha*y contracte! an! #anage! )ortion of the Tri-Ser*ice 0ssault Trans)ort /rogra#. The >ell ?---0 "as (2 ft long feature! si!e-
by-si!e )ilot seats an! ha! a gross "eight of 1:... inclu!ing si+ )assengers or a 1-.. lb )ayloa!. 4t "as )o"ere! by four 1-3. sh) 5D FT3;-5D-
;9 turboshaft engines that "ere cross-lin$e! an! ha! (3J e+cess )o"er in case one of the engines faile! in ho*er. S)an o*er the canar! %inclu!ing
the : ft !ia#eter three-bla!e! !ucte! )ro)ellers& "as -( ft, across the rear "ingti) !ucts it "as (2 ft. The !ucts rotate! non-!ifferentially fro# .< to 23<
an! ha! s)an"ise ele*ons across the center of the !uct. 9ifferential )ro)eller )itch an! the ele*ons "ere use! to control the ?---0 in ho*er. 4n for"ar!
flight the !ucts )ro*i!e! a significant a#ount of the aero!yna#ic lift. The first aircraft "as rolle! out on -3 May 1273. 4t #a!e its first ho*ering flight in
March 1277 an! "as teste! to transition angles of u) to (.< at s)ee!s of u) to 1.. $t. That 0ugust the first )rototy)e "as lost in a har! lan!ing after
only three hours of flying ti#e !ue to a hy!raulic failure. The secon! )rototy)e #a!e its first flight in January 127: an! )erfor#e! hun!re!s of co#)lete
transitions. 4t reache! a #a+i#u# s)ee! in for"ar! flight of (13 #)h an! ha! a range of '3. #iles. 4n early 127; the ?---0=s *ariable stability an!
control syste# "as !e#onstrate! "hich allo"e! for research into ho*er an! transition flight characteristics of other )ossible V/STOL aircraft. On (.
July 127; it set a recor! by ho*ering at an altitu!e of o*er ;... ft. Flying until 12;. it accrue! about -.. hours in the air.
5. Nor$ 1.. +a$#t
4n 1277 the French co#)any Hor! %later )art of 0Kros)atiale& built t"o Ca!ets each )o"ere! by t"o (1: sh) 0llison T7(-0-30 engines. The Hor! 3..
Ca!et "as -- ft long an! -. ft "i!e "eighe! only -:7. lb an! use! t"o relati*ely large fi*e-bla!e! !ucte! )ro)ellers. On the e+it en! of the !ucts
four control *anes in a !ia#on! sha)e controlle! )itch %collecti*ely& an! ya" %!ifferentially&. This configuration "as selecte! to try to e+)an! the airflo"
in ho*er an! co#)ress it !uring hori8ontal flight. The first aircraft "as use! for static tests "hile the secon! #a!e a tethere! ho*er on -( July 127;. 4t
"as cancele! "ithout being teste! further.
Tilt Wi-
Tilting the entire $ing, instead of 3ust the rotor or propeller, provides the -enefit of increasing aerodynamic flo$ over the lifting and control surfaces
during transition, and minimi.es the lift loss due to do$n$ash in hover. 4isadvantages, ho$ever, are that an additional method of control such as a tail
3et or rotor is re5uired for control in hover, and ailerons change from roll control in hori.ontal flight to ya$ control in hover. Control is especially difficult
in hover during gusts due to the 6-arn door effect6 of the $ings in a vertical position.
6. V#rtol 53 V4(%
The Vertol :7 recei*e! the 0r#y !esignation VI-- in early 1237. The -7.3 ft fuselage "as built of #etal tube construction an! ha! a helico)ter-li$e t"o
seat coc$)it. 0 single ;7. bh) Lyco#ing FT3(-L-1 "as #ounte! on the fuselage an! !ro*e the t"o 2.3 ft three-bla!e! )ro)ellers by a cross-shaft
through the -3 ft s)an "ings. 4n ho*er )itch an! ya" "ere controlle! by t"o !ucte! )ro)ellers in the tail, in transition aero!yna#ic controls "ere
)hase! in until the tail )ro)ellers "ere no longer nee!e! in hori8ontal flight. 5roun! testing began in 0)ril 123:. The first *ertical flight "as #a!e on 1(
0ugust 123: first hori8ontal flight on : January 123; an! first co#)lete transition on 13 July 123;. 4t continue! to fly until 1273 #a$ing o*er '3.
flights inclu!ing (' full con*ersions.
0. Hill#r '(16
The Hiller ?-1; begun in February 123: use! *arious co#)onents fro# e+isting aircraft. The fuselage "as that of a Chase FC-1--C trans)ort. The
t"o "ing-#ounte! :1.. esh) 0llison T'.-0-1' turboshafts ca#e fro# the ?FF-1/?FV-1 tailsitter %L-( an! L-'& )rogra# an! coul! not be cross-lin$e!.
4t ha! three engines the t"o turbo)ro)s !ro*e the 17 ft !ia#eter counter-rotating three-bla!e! )ro)ellers an! a ('.. lb thrust Bestinghouse J('
turbo@et "hich )ro!uce! )itch control thrust. The ((... lb loa!e! ?-1; un!er"ent e+tensi*e groun! tests beginning in 9ece#ber 123; an! #a!e its
first con*entional flight on -' Ho*e#ber 1232. 4t #a!e )artial con*ersions "ith "ing angles of u) to ((< %relati*e to the fuselage& -- "ith a 1:< nose-u)
attitu!e the "ings ha! an effecti*e 3.< !egrees of tilt %relati*e to the flight )ath&. The turbo)ro) engines ha! electric )itch controls an! "ere too slo" to
)ro*i!e a!e6uate res)onse in ho*er. On the -.th flight it ha! a )ro)eller )itch control )roble# at 1.... ft an! "ent into a s)in. 4t "as reco*ere! before
i#)act but "as groun!e! ha*ing ne*er achie*e! ho*er. 4t continue! to test groun! effects before it "as !a#age! by a test stan! failure.
1.. LTV(Hill#r(R7a '+(1/%
The ?C-1'- aircraft "as the thir! aircraft e*aluate! in the Tri-Ser*ice 0ssault Trans)ort /rogra#. 4t use! four cross-lin$e! (.;. sh) 5eneral Dlectric
T7'-5D-1 engines each !ri*ing a 13.3 ft four-bla!e! )ro)eller. Coll "as controlle! by !ifferential )ro)eller )itch an! )itch by an ; ft three-bla!e!
*ariable )itch tail rotor. Fa" "as )ro*i!e! by ailerons )o"ere! by )ro)eller sli)strea#. The "ing coul! tilt through 1..< allo"ing the ?C-1'- to ho*er in
a tail"in!. The tail rotor fol!e! to the )ort si!e to re!uce the sto"age length an! to )rotect against acci!ental !a#age !uring loa!ing. This cargo
aircraft "as 3; ft long ha! a "ings)an of 7: ft an! "as ca)able of trans)orting (- troo)s an! gear or ;... lb of cargo. 4t ha! a rear loa!ing ra#) an!
ha! a #a+i#u# gross "eight of '1... lb for a *ertical ta$e-off or '3... lb for a short ta$e-off. 4t #a!e its first con*entional flight on -2 Se)te#ber
127' first ho*er on -2 9ece#ber 127' an! first transition on 11 January 1273. 0ir Force trials inclu!e! cargo flights cargo an! )aratroo)er !ro)s
an! !esert #ountain rescue an! carrier o)erations. Fi*e aircraft "ere built but #echanical failures %)ri#arily the cross-shaft an! gear bo+es "hich
coul! be !a#age! !uring "ing fle+ing& an! o)erator error cause! four of the# to be !a#age! in har! lan!ings. One crash occurre! as a result of a
failure of the !ri*e shaft to the tail rotor causing three fatalities. The ?C-1'- suffere! fro# e+cessi*e *ibration an! noise resulting in a high )ilot
"or$loa!. 9uring the )rogra# the ?C-1'- accrue! '-. hours by (2 !ifferent )ilots as an o)erational e*aluation aircraft.
11. +aa$air +L(6/ D7a8#rt
The Cana!ian CL-;' begun in Ho*e#ber 127( "as a 6uarter the si8e of the ?C-1'-. 4t "eighe! ;1.. lb e#)ty coul! #a$e a *ertical ta$e-off at
1--.. lb or a short ta$e-off at 1':.. lb. The "ings "ere (( ft long an! house! t"o 1'3. sh) Lyco#ing T3(-LTC1M-'0 turbo)ro)s "hich )o"ere!
the cross-lin$e! 1' ft four-bla!e! )ro)ellers. /itch control "as )ro*i!e! by t"o counter-rotating t"o-bla!e! hori8ontal )ro)ellers "hich in hori8ontal
flight "ere sto))e! an! aligne! to #ini#i8e !rag. Coll control "as by !ifferential )itch an! ya" "as controlle! "ith ailerons. 4t #a!e its first *ertical
flight in May 1273 an! first con*entional flight that 9ece#ber. 0 total of four aircraft "ere built inclu!ing one "hich "as not flo"n. GS )ilots e*aluate!
it e+tensi*ely inclu!ing !e#onstrations on a#)hibious shi)s an! the /entagon heli)a!. Heither go*ern#ent "as sufficiently intereste! to or!er
)ro!uction aircraft. T"o aircraft "ere !estroye! in non-fatal acci!ents !ue to #echanical failures.
Tilt Rotor
The aircraft tilted the rotors for transition from vertical to hori.ontal flight. Li%e the larger Tilt 7ings &nos. !"",, the engines tilted together $ith the
rotors.
1%. &#ll 'V(11
O*er t"enty years after they began "or$ on the ?V-( >ell recei*e! a contract to begin "or$ on their 1(... lb Cesearch Tilt Cotor aircraft "hich "as
!esignate! ?V-13. The '- ft fuselage house! si!e-by-si!e )ilot seats. 0t each ti) of the (3 ft s)an "ings a 133. sh) Lyco#ing T3(-LTC1M-'M
turboshaft engine )o"ere! a -3 ft !ia#eter three-bla!e! rotor. The engines an! rotors tilte! through 2.< an! "ere cross-lin$e! in the e*ent of engine
failure. The rotors "ere se#i-rigi! stainless steel "ith a high t"ist an! no fla))ing hinges. Control at lo" s)ee!s "as by cyclic an! collecti*e bla!e
angle a!@ust#ents. The first ho*er of the @oint 0r#y/H0S0 ?V-13 "as )erfor#e! on ( May 12::. The first aircraft "as later teste! e+tensi*ely in the
"in! tunnel. 0ircraft nu#ber t"o #a!e its first ho*er on -( 0)ril 12:2. 4t #a!e the first con*ersion to hori8ontal flight on -' July 12:2. 4n the ne+t
se*eral years the ?V-13 con!ucte! e+tensi*e tests shi)boar! lan!ings an! achie*e! a #a+i#u# s)ee! %in a !i*e& of (2: #)h. >y 12;7 it ha! #a!e
13.. con*ersions in 3(. flight hours. The aircraft "as flight teste! aboar! the GSS Bas) in 122. to e*aluate shi)boar! co#)atibility issues of the tilt
rotor conce)t.
1). &#ll &o#i- V(%% O!*r#7
4n 12;( >ell tea#e! "ith >oeing Vertol "as selecte! to !e*elo) their Tilt Cotor conce)t into the 0r#y/Ha*y/Marine Cor)s/0ir Force V---. 4t is
)o"ere! by t"o 0llison T'.7-09-'.. engines "hich !ri*e (; ft three-bla!e rotors on a '3 ft "ings)an. The cross-shafte! engines are each rate! at
713. sh) for ta$e-off "ith the #a+i#u# continuous rating of 3;2. sh), the trans#ission is rate! at less than 3... sh) for nor#al o)erations but
nearly 7... sh) for e#ergencies. The Os)rey #a!e its first flight on 12 March 12;2 an! first transition on 1' Se)te#ber 12;2. 4t is ca)able of
trans)orting -' troo)s or ;7' cubic feet of cargo. 0 loa!ing ra#) is in the tail of the 3: ft fuselage. Hor#al *ertical ta$e-off "eight is ':3.. lb "hile
#a+i#u# gross "eight for a short ta$e-off an! lan!ing can be as high as 7.... lb inclu!ing u) to -.... lb of internal or e+ternal )ayloa!. Co#bat
range is about 7.. #iles "hile #a+i#u# ferry range is -'.. #iles. Ma+i#u# s)ee! is nearly '.. #)h. >y the en! of 1227 o*er 11.. hrs of flight
testing ha! been con!ucte! "ith fi*e !e*elo)#ent aircraft, t"o aircraft crashe! %1221 an! 122-& the latter one $illing se*en )eo)le. The first of four
E)ro!uction re)resentati*eE test aircraft began flying on 3 February 122:. 0 total of 3-( aircraft "ill no" be built for the Marine Cor)s Ha*y an! 0ir
Force "ith the first V---s beco#ing o)erational in -....
Tilt 9#t
Li%e the Tilt 8otor, the Tilt +et rotates the entire propulsion system from the vertical for hover to the hori.ontal for conventional flight, -ut uses a 3et
engine.
1/. &#ll 31 Air T#!t V#hi"l# :ATV;
4n 123' >ell built their Mo!el 73 0ir Test Vehicle %0TV& of )arts fro# a nu#ber of co##ercial aircraft. 0 1... lb thrust Fairchil! J-'' #issile turbo@et
engine #ounte! on each si!e of the aircraft un!er the "ing coul! be tilte! fro# *ertical to hori8ontal. 0 Turbo#eca /alouste turboco#)ressor )ro*i!e!
reaction @ets at the tail an! "ingti)s for control in ho*er. 4t #a!e its first ho*er on 17 Ho*e#ber 123' fro# a )latfor# to )re*ent the 0TV fro#
reingesting its e+haust gases. The 0TV "as #o!ifie! "ith a "heele! lan!ing gear an! #a!e hori8ontal flights in 1233. 4t #a!e )artial con*ersions at
altitu!e but ha! ina!e6uate engine thrust to co#)lete the transition. >ell en!e! the )rogra# in 1233 in fa*or of its ?-1' %L1;& but use! this tilt @et
e+)erience to !e*elo) the 0ir Force ?F-1.2 V/STOL fighter conce)t, although cancele! before being built this conce)t "as *ery si#ilar to the later VJ
1.1C %L(.&.
D#fl#"t#$ Sli*!tr#a<
4eflecting propeller slipstream *9 do$n$ard $ith the trailing flaps forms a 6-uc%et6 that can vector propeller thrust vertically.
11. Ro=#rt!o VTOL
Cobertson 0ircraft Cor)oration "as for#e! in October 1237 to buil! a four seat *ertical ta$e-off an! lan!ing %VTOL& aircraft )o"ere! by t"o
su)ercharge! ('. h) Lyco#ing 5SO-';. engines. The "ing ha! a sli!ing fla) syste# "ith a !ouble-slotte! full s)an trailing e!ge fla) )ro*i!ing all
control. The fla)s "ere retracte! into the lo" as)ect ratio "ing for hori8ontal flight. 0ll fuel an! oil "ere carrie! in "ing ti) tan$s "hich also acte! as
en!)lates. This ca))e! the "ing Ebuc$etsE an! shoul! ha*e i#)ro*e! cruise efficiency. The aircraft #a!e a tethere! flight on ; January 123: but "as
not )ursue!.
13. R7a 0% V4() V#rti*la#
The Cyan 2- !esignate! VI-( by the 0r#y in June 1237 "as inten!e! to be a reconnaissance an! liaison aircraft able to o)erate fro# un)re)are!
surfaces. 4t ha! a -; ft #etal fuselage an! "as )o"ere! by a 1... sh) Lyco#ing T3(-L-1 turboshaft engine !ri*ing a #etal three-bla!e Har8ell
)ro)eller on each si!e. The )ro)ellers "ere situate! ahea! of an! belo" the "ing so the #a@ority of the )ro)eller sli)strea# flo"e! !irectly into the
buc$et for#e! by the e+ten!e! !ouble fla)s an! "ere turne! !o"n"ar! for *ertical lift. 9ifferential )ro)eller )itch "as use! for roll control. Dngine
e+haust "as use! at the tail for )itch an! ya" before aero!yna#ic controls "ere effecti*e. Cyan began ta+iing trials on : February 123;. 0fter
e+tensi*e "in! tunnel tests an! aircraft #o!ifications the first flight "as #a!e on -1 January 1232. The engines "ere unable to )ro*i!e sufficient
)o"er to ho*er "ithout a hea! "in!. 0n acci!ent the ne+t #onth groun!e! it for re)airs until its first test by H0S0 in February 127., unfortunately the
)ilot e@ecte! after an un)lanne! #aneu*er. 4t "as again rebuilt to flying status: #o!ifications after the crash le! to a fabric nose section an o)en
coc$)it an! a !ifferent lan!ing gear. 4t continue! flying in 1271 testing lo"-s)ee! V/STOL han!ling characteristics.
15. Fair"hil$ %%/ V4(1 Fl#$-li-
The Fairchil! M---'-1 Fle!gling "as )o"ere! by a 1.-' sh) 5eneral Dlectric FT3;-5D-- turboshaft engine turning four three-bla!e! Har8ell #etal
)ro)ellers. The o)en coc$)it ha! roo# for the )ilot as "ell as a @u#) seat. The aircraft coul! either sit on its for"ar! tricycle lan!ing gear or rest on its
t"o #ain "heels an! a tail s$i! )ro*i!ing the Fle!gling "ith (.< of inherent rotation to enhance the Ebuc$et=sE effecti*eness. S#all rotors at the to) of
the T-tail controlle! )itch !uring ho*er. Tethere! tests "ere #a!e in late 1232 but it ne*er fle".
V#"tor#$ Thr,!t
This class vectors the e'haust of the 3et engine to create vertical or hori.ontal motion.
16. &#ll '(1/
>uilt un!er a GS 0ir Force contract the ?-1' use! a )lanar array of !i*erter *anes to *ector the e+haust of t"o 0r#strong Si!!eley 0SV; Vi)er
engines %1:3. lb thrust each& at the center of gra*ity %c.g.&. The *anes coul! be rotate! to !irect the e+haust fro# *ertical to nearly hori8ontal. The -3 ft
fuselage an! tail "ere fro# a >eech T-(', the (' ft s)an "ing "as fro# a >eech >onan8a. The lac$ of a e@ection seat li#ite! ho*er testing to *ery lo"
an! *ery high altitu!es. The gross "eight "as originally only (1.. lb. The lan!ing gear ha! to be lengthene! "hen the )heno#enon of suc$-!o"n "as
first !isco*ere!. Dngine gyrosco)ic effects an! e+haust gas reingestion "ere also encountere!. First ho*er flight "as achie*e! on 1: February 123:,
first transition "as #a!e on -' May 123;. The Vi)er engines "ere re)lace! "ith higher )o"er 5D J;3 engines "hen it "as transferre! to H0S0 in
127.. 4t "as e*entually fitte! "ith a !igital fly-by-"ire control syste# an! continue! flying as a V/STOL testbe! until 12;1N
10. Ha>2#r P.11%5 ?#!tr#l
The Ha"$er/>ristol fun!e! /.11-: !e*elo)#ent began in 123:. The >ristol /egasus engine %originally "ith only 11... lb thrust& "as !e*elo)e! for the
aircraft "ith hea*y GS fun!ing su))ort. 4t "as base! on the earlier Or)heus engine an! ha! a bifurcate! @et)i)e an! *ectoring front an! rear no88les.
The /.11-: #a!e its first ho*er on -1 October 127. on tethers but this "as not consi!ere! to be beneficial to feel out the aircraft res)onse so the first
untethere! ho*er "as #a!e less than a #onth later on 12 Ho*e#ber 127.. First con*entional flight "as #a!e on : July 1271 an! first !ouble
transition on 1- Se)te#ber 1271. Control )o"er "as lo" about all a+es "hich co#bine! "ith suc$-!o"n an! li#ite! height control )o"er resulte! in
a high )ilot "or$loa! in ho*er. Hot gas ingestion "as o*erco#e "ith a lo" for"ar! s)ee! in ta$eoff an! lan!ing. One of the t"o initial test aircraft
crashe! "ith the )ilot e@ecting safely. The >ritish go*ern#ent began su))orting the !e*elo)#ent before the first flight fun!ing the first t"o )rototy)es
an! later four #ore. /egasus ( )o"er "as increase! to 1(3.. lb thrust. 4n 127- the GM GS an! 5er#any initiate! a tri)artite )rogra# fun!ing nine
i#)ro*e! /.11-: Mestrels for use by a GM-le! tri-national s6ua!ron "hich con!ucte! o)erational trials. These use! /egasus 3 engines "ith thrust
increase! to 133.. lb. The Mestrel )a*e! the "ay for the Harrier %L-1&.
%.. Ya2o8l#8 Ya2()3 Fr##ha$
The Freehan! "as )o"ere! by t"o non-afterburning Soyu8 Tu#ans$iy/Mhatchaturo* C--:-(.. turbo@et engines %11... lb thrust each& #ounte!
for"ar! of an! belo" the coc$)it. They "ere fitte! "ith lou*ere! no88les "hich "ere *ectorable through about 2.O an! e+hauste! at the center of
gra*ity %c.g.& si#ilar to the >ell ?-1' %L1;&. Dngine blee! air "as use! for reaction control no88les at the ti) of each "ingti) fairing on the tailcone an!
at the ti) of a ten foot long nose E)robe.E The o*erall length "as 3:.3 ft long %inclu!ing the nose )robe& "ith a "ings)an of -: ft. D#)ty "eight "as
1-('7 lb #a+i#u# ta$e-off "eight "as -.:-( lb. The Fa$-(7 #a!e its first untethere! ho*er on 2 January 127(. Fro# there the flight en*elo)e "as
slo"ly e+)an!e! "ith a !ouble transition fro# *ertical ta$e-off to for"ar! flight an! bac$ to *ertical lan!ing )erfor#e! on 17 Se)te#ber 127(. 0
nu#ber of retractable !oors %inclu!ing a large Ea)ronE un!er the nose& "ere fitte! to re!uce hot gas reingestion. 4t "as only ca)able of *ertical ta$e-offs
an! lan!ings. The first )ublic !is)lay "as at the So*iet Hational 0*iation !ay on : July 127: at the 9o#o!e!o*o 0ir Sho". The Fa$-(7 "as a
technology !e#onstrator that e*entually le! to the o)erational Fa$-(; Forger.
%1. M"Do#ll Do,-la!/&riti!h A#ro!*a"# Harri#r
Follo"ing the Ha"$er %later >ritish 0eros)ace& Mestrel o)erational trials %L12& the first of si+ )ro!uction-!esigne! Harrier !e*elo)#ental aircraft fle" on
(1 0ugust 1277. The )ro!uction 5C1 Harrier entere! ser*ice "ith the GM Coyal 0ir Force on 1 0)ril 1272 )o"ere! by the 12... lb >ristol %later Colls-
Coyce& /egasus M$ 1.1. GS Marine Cor)s 0V-;0s "ere )urchase! in 1272 )o"ere! by the -13.. lb thrust /egasus 11. 0 na*ali8e! *ersion the
FCS1 Sea Harrier entere! ser*ice "ith the Coyal Ha*y in 12;.. Mc9onnell 9ouglas %later "ith >ritish 0eros)ace& began !e*elo)ing the 0V-;> 5C3
Harrier 44 in 12:' an! began flight testing in 12;1. Bith a #ore )o"erful engine a larger co#)osite su)ercritical "ing o)ti#i8e! Lift 4#)ro*e#ent
9e*ices %L49s& an! other i#)ro*e#ents the Harrier 44 "as able to !ouble the )ayloa! an! range "hen #a$ing short ta$eoffs. The F'.--CC-'.;
/egasus 11-71 has no" reache! -(;.. lb thrust. To!ay the Harrier is the only o)erational V/STOL aircraft in the "orl!. 4n a!!ition to the GSMC the
GM C0F an! CH the Harrier is also o)erate! by S)ain 4taly 4n!ia an! Thailan!.
%%. &o#i- '()%
0s )art of the Joint Stri$e Fighter %JSF& )rogra# the >oeing ?-(- conce)t !e#onstrator %artist=s !ra"ing abo*e& uses a !eri*ati*e of the /ratt A
Bhitney F112 engine "ith Colls-Coyce lift co#)onents. The ?-(- conce)t has a chin inlet an! a blen!e! !elta "ing. 4n short ta$e-off an! *ertical
lan!ing %STOVL& #o!e the engine closes the *ectorable cruise no88le an! o)ens t"o lift no88les at the aircraft c.g. First flight is )lanne! for -.... The
"inner of the JSF source selection in -..1 "ill then !e*elo) its o)erational STOVL *ersion of the conce)t as a su)ersonic #ultirole aircraft to re)lace
the Harrier. >oeing=s !esign for the o)erational aircraft has an e#)ty "eight of about --... lb length of '3 ft an! a "ings)an of (. ft, #a+i#u# ta$e-
off "eight "oul! be about 3.... lb. 9uring the Conce)t 9e*elo)#ent /hase that en!e! in Ho*e#ber 1227 >oeing co#)lete! 11:.. hours of
!e*elo)#ental testing an! )ilote! si#ulations inclu!ing testing of a /ratt A Bhitney FF112-)o"ere! 2'J scale #o!el in 1223.
Tail Sitt#r!
An aircraft that points straight up permits the entire thrust of its propulsion system to -e converted directly into vertical lift. :nfortunately, $hile it may -e
some$hat easy to ta%e off facing up, it $as considera-ly more difficult to land facing the opposite direction the aircraft $as traveling.
%). Lo"2h##$ 'FV(1
0fter Borl! Bar 44 the GS Ha*y "as loo$ing for "ays to i#)ro*e shi) !efense by e6ui))ing #erchant shi)s "ith *ertical ta$e-off aircraft. 0 123. !esign
co#)etition selecte! Con*air %L-'& an! Loc$hee! to each buil! a single-seat tail sitting fighter aircraft. Dach use! the 0llison FT'.-0-1' engine %t"o
cou)le! T(; )o"er sections #ounte! si!e-by-si!e& !ri*ing t"o 17 ft counter-rotating three-bla!e! Curtiss-Bright )ro)ellers "ith electric )itch control.
The engines )ro!uce! 33.. esh) "ith a :1.. esh) ta$e-off rating resulting in o*er 1.... lb of thrust. The (: ft fuselage ha! #i!-#ounte! (. ft s)an
"ings. Control in ho*er "as by the sa#e large aero!yna#ic surfaces as in le*el flight as each "as bathe! in )ro)eller sli)strea#, the E?E-sha)e! tail
arrange#ent #ini#i8e! !o"n"ash #as$ing. 0n erector trolley "as use! to stan! the ?FV-1 in the *ertical )osition, the ti)s of each tail ha! a s#all
castoring "heel. The aircraft "as fitte! "ith a te#)orary con*entional attitu!e lan!ing gear an! #a!e its first hori8ontal flight in March 123'. 0 total of
-: con*entional flights "ere #a!e "ith the first full transitions #a!e abo*e 1... ft that Fall. Control in ho*er "as *ery "ea$ an! the )ilot ha!
!ifficulty in !eter#ining sin$ cli#b an! rotation fro# nor#al *isual cues. Ho *ertical ta$e-offs or lan!ings "ere e*er atte#)te!. 0s "ith the Con*air
?FF-1 /ogo the engine an! control syste#s "ere @u!ge! to be insufficient.
%/. +o8air 'FY(1 Po-o
0s "ith the Loc$hee! ?FV-1 the /ogo use! the 0llison FT'.-0-1' engine an! Curtiss-Bright counter-rotating )ro)ellers but "as so#e"hat #ore
co#)act an! less con*entional in a))earance. The /ogo "as (1 ft long "ith a -7 ft "i!e !elta "ing. 0 large *ertical stabili8er abo*e the "ing "as
#atche! by an e6ually si8e! *entral fin belo" "hich coul! be @ettisone! for an e#ergency hori8ontal lan!ing. The seat "as incline! '3< to"ar! the
instru#ent )anel for *ertical flight. Control in ho*er for the ?FF-1 "ere also the sa#e as for con*entional flight but again this )ro*i!e! only li#ite!
control )o"er. 0l#ost (.. tethere! tests hanging fro# the ceiling of Moffett Fiel!=s airshi) hangar "ere #a!e in 0)ril 123'. First free ho*er "as on 1
0ugust 123'. The first !ouble transition to hori8ontal flight an! bac$ to a *ertical lan!ing "as #a!e on - Ho*e#ber 123'. The /ogo "as flo"n until
Ho*e#ber 1237. 0s "ith the Loc$hee! ?FV-1 the engine an! control syste#s "ere consi!ere! ina!e6uate.
%1. R7a '(1) V#rti@#t
0fter re#ote controlle! tethere! rig tests fro# 12': to 123. an! a flying rig in 1231 Cyan "as a"ar!e! an 0ir Force contract in 123( to !e*elo) an
actual flying @et-)o"ere! VTOL aircraft "hich "as gi*en the !esignation ?-1(. 4t "as only -' ft long - @ust large enough to acco##o!ate a coc$)it
%again "ith a tilte! seat& an! the 1.... lb thrust Colls-Coyce 0*on turbo@et. 4ts high #ounte! !elta "ing ha! a "ings)an of only -1 ft ca))e! "ith flat
en!)lates. 0t the ti) of the nose "as a short )ole en!ing in a hoo$. The hoo$ "as use! to ca)ture a "ire on a *ertical trailer be!. Once ca)ture! the
trailer "as lo"ere! to hori8ontal an! coul! be trans)orte! on the groun!. Dngine thrust "as *ectore! to )ro*i!e )itch an! ya" control in ho*er "hile
roll "as )ro*i!e! by )uffer @ets outboar! of the en!)lates. The first )rototy)e "as fitte! "ith a te#)orary lan!ing gear an! #a!e its first hori8ontal flight
on 1. 9ece#ber 1233. 4t later #a!e full con*ersions to *ertical attitu!e an! bac$ at altitu!e. The lan!ing gear "as then re)lace! by a rear #ounte!
castoring fra#e"or$ $no"n as the Eroller-s$ateE an! hoo$ing )ractice "as con!ucte!. The secon! )rototy)e follo"e! a si#ilar )rogression, on 11 0)ril
123: it #a!e a *ertical ta$e-off fro# the raise! trailer transitione! to hori8ontal flight an! bac$ en!ing "ith hoo$ing on the "ire Etra)e8e.E On -;--2
July of that year the ?-1( "as !e#onstrate! in Bashington ho*ering across the ri*er to the /entagon. The 0ir Force chose not to continue
!e*elo)#ent of the Verti@et because of the lac$ of an o)erational re6uire#ent.
%3. SNE+MA +/1. +olAo*tBr#
4n France the SociKtK Hationale !=Dtu!e et Construction !e Moteurs !=0*iation %SHDCM0& began "or$ing on a @et )o"ere! tail-sitter in 123'. Various
rigs "ere teste! fro# 1233-123: )o"ere! by the 7'.. lb thrust 0tar 9 @et engine each "ith increasing co#)le+ity. The C'3. ColKo)tPre %Eannular
"ingE& "as the final ste) in the )rogra#. 4t ha! a -- ft fuselage surroun!e! by a 1..3 ft !ia#eter annular "ing "ith four s#all fins abo*e castoring
"heels. The airfra#e "as built by the Hor! co#)any. Control in ho*er "as )ro*i!e! by tilting *anes in the no88le of the ::.. lb thrust 0tar 1.1D
turbo@et. 4n for"ar! flight the s#all fins !eflecte! the air for control. T"o s#all stra$es in the nose coul! be e+ten!e! to facilitate a )itch-u) #o#ent in
transition bac$ to *ertical. First tethere! ho*er "as on 1: 0)ril 1232, first free ho*er "as on ( May 1232 lasting for ( 1/- #inutes. The ninth flight "as
on -3 July 1232, it "as to transition to about (7< fro# the *ertical an! then return to ho*er at -... ft before beginning a *ertical !escent. Ho"e*er the
ColKo)tPre "as unable to establish the ho*er an! began !escen!ing faster than !esire! an! fell into oscillations about all three a+es. The )ilot e@ecte!
at 13. ft but "as ba!ly hurt. The ColKo)tPre rotate! to about 3.< an! accelerate! hori8ontally but !i! not 6uite co#)lete the transition an! crashe!.
D#)hasis on both si!es of the 0tlantic change! fro# !is)ersal to air su)eriority an! attac$ roles for "hich the tail sitters "ith their s#all )ayloa! an!
range "ere ill-suite!.
SEPARATE POWER PLANT FOR HOVER
This class of aircraft used t$o separate groups of po$er plants; one for hover, and one for cruise.
Lift C +r,i!#
These aircraft use lift engines for hover only, and separate engines for cruise only. A lift engine is a vertically mounted 3et engine that is highly
optimi.ed to produce a relatively large amount of thrust for the short duration of ta%e!off and landing.
%5. Short S+.1
Bor$ began in 123' to !esign a test aircraft that coul! !e#onstrate the utility of the recently !e*elo)e! Colls-Coyce C>.1.; lift engine )ro!ucing
-1(. lb thrust each %a thrust to "eight of ;:1&. The Short >rothers SC.1 "as )o"ere! by four C>.1.; lift engines *ertically #ounte! on gi#bals in the
center fuselage an! one C>.1.; cruise engine in the rear for for"ar! flight. 5roun! carts "ere use! to s)in the lift engines u) to s)ee! for ta$e-off, for
lan!ing cruise engine blee! air "as use!. The SC.1 "as !esigne! to stu!y ho*er transition an! lo"-s)ee! flight an! ha! a fi+e! lan!ing gear. 5ross
"eight "as ::.. lb "ith a total *ertical thrust ;7.. lb. O*erall length "as (. ft, the "ings)an "as -(.3 ft. >lee!s fro# the four lift engines )o"ere!
nose tail an! "ing ti) reaction @ets for control at lo" s)ee!s. First CTOL flight "as #a!e on - 0)ril 123: first tethere! *ertical flight "as on -7 May
123; first free *ertical flight "as on -3 October 123;, first transition "as on 7 0)ril 127.. The SC.1 e+)erience! the ty)ical suc$-!o"n an! hot-gas
ingestion )roble#s !isco*ere! !uring V/STOL !e*elo)#ent )rogra#s. 4t a))eare! at the Farnborough air sho" in 127. an! /aris air sho" in 1271 %for
the latter it fle" the Dnglish Channel both "ays&. Ma+i#u# s)ee! "as only about -3. #)h !ue to the lo" thrust of the single cruise engine. /ilot
"or$loa! "as *ery high !uring lan!ing @ust "hen )ilot attention "as #ost i#)ortant. The lift engines ha! to be starte! as late as )ossible !ue to the
high co#bine! fuel consu#)tion of the fi*e engines. The ignition )roce!ure "as *ery labor intensi*e as "as transition fro# "ing-borne to @et-borne
flight. The secon! test aircraft crashe! on - October 127( !ue to a controls #alfunction $illing the )ilot. 4t "as rebuilt an! the t"o aircraft continue! to
fly until 127:.
%6. Da!!a,lt &alDa" V
0lthough there "as no >ritish re6uire#ent for the C>.1.; lift engine 9assault in France "as intereste! in !e*elo)ing a su)ersonic *ertical ta$e-off an!
lan!ing fighter. The first ste) "as to ta$e eight of the e+isting C>.1.; lift engines an! install the# in the Mirage 444 )rototy)e airfra#e ..1. The rebuilt
aircraft nic$na#e! >al8ac "eighe! about 1(3.. lbs. 4t ha! a fattene! an! stretche! fuselage %'( ft& but the sa#e -' ft s)an "ings. The inlet !uct for
the cruise engine the ';3. lb thrust >ristol Or)heus ran !o"n the center of the lift engine collection. The front four engines "ere also se)arate! fro#
their rear counter)arts by the #ain lan!ing gear to balance the center of gra*ity. Dach lift engine )air share! an inlet !oor an! an e+haust !oor. First
tethere! ho*er "as )erfor#e! on 1- October 127- "ith the first free ho*er #a!e 7 !ays later. First con*entional flight "as #a!e on 1 March 127(.
9uring transition all the lift engine !oors create! 6uite a bit of !rag. On -: January 127' !uring one of the first transition atte#)ts it crashe! in a
Efalling leafE acci!ent $illing the )ilot. 4t "as rebuilt an! $ille! another )ilot on ; Se)te#ber 1273, this ti#e it "as beyon! re)air.
%0. Da!!a,lt Mira-# III(V
The 444-V %V for E*erticalE& "as a Mirage 444 airfra#e #o!ifie! "ith eight C>.17--(1 lift engines %generating 3'.. lb thrust each or 17:1 thrust to
"eightN& long-stro$e lan!ing gears an! *arious !oors to #ini#i8e the un!esirable effects of the lift engine e+hausts. 4t "as 32 ft long "ith a -2 ft
"ings)an an! "eighe! about (.... lb. 4t "as )o"ere! by a SHDCM0 TF-1.' %1-... lb thrust !ry -.... lb in afterburner&. Control )o"er "as
i#)ro*e! o*er the >al8ac "ith si#ilarly locate! control @ets at the nose tail an! "ingti)s. First ho*er "as achie*e! on 1- February 1273. The TF-1.'
"as u)gra!e! to a TF-1.7 for the first su)ersonic flight. First transition "as con!ucte! in March 1277. The secon! aircraft "as fitte! "ith a 1.:3. lb
thrust /ratt A Bhitney TF(.. 4t is the fastest V/STOL aircraft on recor! achie*ing Mach -..' on 1- Se)te#ber 1277. The eight engines !i!n=t lea*e
#uch roo# for fuel an! a *isiting GS 0ir Force )ilot ha! to e@ect !estroying one of the t"o aircraft "hen he ran out of fuel !uring lo"-s)ee! an! ho*er
o)erations. The other 444-V "as also lost. Bith the entire fuselage fille! "ith lift engines the >al8ac an! the 444-V see#e! to )ro*e that "ith enough lift
engines any aircraft coul! be con*erte! to V/STOL. The )roble# ho"e*er "as that there "as no roo# for anything else. The Mirage 444-V "eighe!
about (... lb o*er the basic Mirage 444 "hich cost about half the )ayloa! an! fuel.
+OM&INED POWER PLANT FOR HOVER
This class of aircraft used its main propulsion system for -oth hover and cruise, -ut also had a separate propulsion system for additional hover thrust.
Lift C Lift/+r,i!#
One set of lift engines for lift only, and another set of engines for -oth lift and cruise.
).. EWR V91.1+
The su)ersonic VJ 1.1C built by the 5er#an DBC %EConsortiu#E& of Messersch#itt Hein$el an! >Ql$o" e#)loye! a lift )lus lift/cruise )ro)ulsion
conce)t )o"ere! by si+ Colls-Coyce/MTG C>.1'3 turbo@et engines. T"o of these engines "ere #ounte! in tan!e# aft of the coc$)it, the other four
engines "ere in )airs in "ingti) s"i*elling nacelles. On the secon! of the t"o e+)eri#ental aircraft the VJ 1.1C ?- the "ingti) #ounte! engines "ere
e6ui))e! "ith afterburners "hich increase! their a*ailable thrust fro# -:3. to (73. )oun!s each. The first VJ 1.1C ho*ering flight occurre! on 1.
0)ril 127( an! the first hori8ontal ta$eoff "as acco#)lishe! on (1 0ugust 127(. 0 !ouble transition %*ertical ta$eoff through con*entional flight
follo"e! by a *ertical lan!ing& "as achie*e! on the si+th flight on -. Se)te#ber 127(. The non-afterburning ?1 beca#e the "orl!=s first su)ersonic
V/STOL aircraft in July 127' "hen it bro$e the soun! barrier in a shallo" !i*e. This aircraft "as lost in an acci!ent on 1' Se)te#ber 127'. This
occurre! "hen the aircraft beca#e uncontrollable i##e!iately after a hori8ontal ta$eoff. The )ilot e@ecte! at an altitu!e of ten feet !uring an
unco##an!e! roll. He sur*i*e! but suffere! crushe! *ertebrae. The acci!ent "as foun! to ha*e been cause! by a roll-rate gyro "hich ha! been
installe! "ith re*erse! )olarity. /rior to its loss the VJ 1.1C ?1 ha! co#)lete! '. aero!yna#ic flights 1' full transition flights an! the Hanno*er 0ir
Sho" )resentation on ( May 127'. The VJ 1.1C ?- fle" its first ho*ering free flights on 1- June but !i! not atte#)t to use its afterburning ca)abilities
for *ertical ta$eoffs until 1. October 127', "ithin t"o "ee$s the VJ 1.1C ?- !e#onstrate! co#)lete transitions fro# *ertical to hori8ontal flight an!
bac$ to a *ertical lan!ing using afterburning. 4t suffere! fro# high te#)erature an! erosion issues an! crashe! "hen it ingeste! hot e+haust gases
an! suffere! a significant thrust loss "hile atte#)ting to lan! on an ele*ate! )latfor#. The rotating nacelle !esign "as aban!one! an! the )ro)ose!
follo"-on the VJ 1.19 !is)ense! "ith the "ingti)-#ounte! engines but retaine! the lift )lus lift/cruise )ro)ulsion conce)t. 4ts use of C>.17- fi*e lift
engines an! t"o aft fuselage C>.13( lift/cruise engines %"ith internal thrust !eflectors& "as *ery co#)le+ an! the VJ 1.19 "as cancele! after engine
testing ha! begun.
)1. Dori#r Do )1
The 5er#an 9ornier 9o (1 )ro@ect "as begun in the early 127.s as a 3.... lb gross "eight *ertical ta$e-off an! lan!ing #ilitary trans)ort )lane
ca)able of lifting 7...-;... lb. 4t "as 7; ft long "ith a t"o )ilot cre" sitting si!e by si!e. 4t coul! loa! 1':. cubic ft of cargo through the rear loa!ing
ra#). 4t use! t"o 133.. lb thrust >ristol /egasus 3-- engines an! eight ''.. lb thrust Colls-Coyce C>.17--'9 engines. The )o"er)lants "ere
!i*i!e! into four "ing-#ounte! )o!s - a /egasus )o! an! a )o! of four lift engines on either si!e of the fuselage. The lift engine )o!s "ere locate! at
the en!s of the 32 ft s)an "ing. The lift engine e+haust coul! be *ectore! bac$"ar! or for"ar! 13; for ta$e-off an! lan!ing res)ecti*ely. The /egasus
coul! *ector e+haust fro# (.; for"ar! to ;.; bac$. 9ifferential *ectoring an! thrust le*els "ere use! for control in roll an! ya", )itch "as affecte! by a
)uffer @et in the tail. 0fter al#ost four years of ho*er rig tests of increasing si8e an! realis# to !e*elo) the autostabili8ation controls three 9o (1 aircraft
"ere built: one each for con*entional flight trials groun! testing an! ho*er an! transition research. The first aircraft #a!e a con*entional flight "ithout
the lift engine )o!s on 1. February 127:. The thir! aircraft #a!e the first ho*er on -- Ho*e#ber 127:. First transition fro# *ertical "as on 17
9ece#ber an! first transition to *ertical 7 !ays later. 4t continue! to fly until it "as cancele! in 0)ril 12:.: the large !rag an! "eight of the engine )o!s
re!uce! the useful )ayloa! an! range co#)are! to conte#)orary con*entional trans)orts.
)%. Lo"2h##$ 'V(/& H,<<i-=ir$ II
4n 127' "hen the ?V-'0 %L(;& )ro*e! unsatisfactory the re#aining Hu##ingbir! "as #o!ifie! "ith four 5eneral Dlectric J;3-5D-12 lift engines
%(... lb thrust& for ho*er. T"o a!!itional J;3 engines )ro*i!e! thrust !uring hori8ontal flight. 9uring ho*er large !i*erter *al*es !irecte! the cruise
engine e+haust on each si!e through the fuselage to a no88le bet"een the lift engines for a!!itional *ertcal thrust. 4n transition one lift/cruise engine
"as !i*erte! "hile the other )ro*i!e! for"ar! thrust. /itch an! ya" @ets at the nose an! tail )ro*i!e! control in ho*er. Ma+i#u# *ertical ta$e-off "eight
"as 1-7.. lb. The Hu##ingbir! 44 ha! a fly-by-"ire !ual channel autostabili8ation syste#. 4t "as rolle! out on ' June 127; but "as !estroye! in a
crash !uring a con*entional flight on 1' March 1272 "ithout e*er #a$ing a ho*er.
)). VFW VA? 101&
The V0M 121> use! t"o Colls-Coyce/MTG C>.17--;1 lift engines %7... lb thrust each& one #ounte! !irectly behin! the coc$)it an! one aft of the
"ing )lus a MTG/Colls-Coyce C>.12(-1- *ectore! thrust turbofan engine %1.17( lb thrust& #ounte! bet"een the#. The C>.12( "as a scale! !o"n
*ersion of the Coll Coyce /egasus engine use! on the Mestrel/Harrier. First untethere! ho*ering flight of the 5er#an/4talian V0M 121> "as con!ucte!
on 1. Se)te#ber 12:1 "ith first transition achie*e! on -7 October 12:-. The )rogra# "as inten!e! to !e*elo) a high-s)ee! V/STOL stri$e aircraft,
but it "as cancele! !ue to a change in H0TO strategy. The GS Ha*y subse6uently fun!e! a!!itional V/STOL oriente! flight tests.
)/. Ya2o8l#8 Ya2()6 For-#r
The Fa$-(; Forger use! t"o in-line Cybins$ C9-(7-(3FVC lift engines %7:-- lb thrust each& i##e!iately behin! the coc$)it incline! "ith the engine
e+haust at 1( rear"ar!. One Soyu8 Tu#ans$iy/Mhatchaturo* C--:V-(.. turbo@et %1(''' lb thrust& "as #ounte! in the center fuselage an! e+hauste!
through t"o hy!raulically actuate! *ectoring no88les %connecte! by a trans*erse shaft& one on each si!e of the fuselage @ust aft of the trailing e!ge of
the "ing. The first )rototy)e fle" in 12:1 an! the Fa$-(; %originally !esignate! the Fa$-(7M& first a))eare! to the Best in July 12:7 "hen the Mie*
!e)loye! "ith a !e*elo)#ental s6ua!ron of Forger-0s an! tra*ele! through the Me!iterranean. The nor#al co#)le#ent for the Mie*-class through
!ec$ aircraft carrier "as a !o8en single-seat Forger-0s an! one or t"o t"in-seat trainer Fa$-(;G Forger->s. The )ri#ary roles "ere fleet !efense
%)articularly against sha!o"ing #ariti#e sur*eillance aircraft& reconnaissance an! anti-shi) stri$e but "as ne*er use! in co#bat. The Forger "as
re#o*e! fro# front line ser*ice in 122--2( although a fe" re#aine! in the in*entory for another year as li#ite! )roficiency training aircraft. 0 total of
-(1 aircraft ha! been built by the ti#e )ro!uction en!e! in 12;;.
)1. Ya2o8l#8 Ya2(1/1 Fr##!t7l#
The Fa$-'1 )rogra# "as initiate! in 12:3 about the sa#e ti#e that the Fa$-(; "as first being !e)loye!. The su)ersonic Freestyle "as o)ti#i8e! for
air !efense "ith an attac$ ca)ability as a secon!ary role. The first con*entional flight "as #a!e on 2 March 12;: an! the first ho*er on -2 9ece#ber
12;2. The first official !etails "ere not release! by the So*iet Gnion until the 1221 /aris 0ir Sho" %re-!esignate! as the Fa$-1'1& by "hich ti#e the t"o
flying )rototy)es ha! accu#ulate! about -1. hours in the air. 0 !o8en F04-recogni8e! Class H. 444 recor!s for V/STOL "ere set in 0)ril 1221 consisting
of altitu!es an! ti#es to altitu!es "ith loa!s. 4n flight testing the Freestyle achie*e! a #a+i#u# s)ee! of 1.: Mach an! #aneu*erability "as
re)eate!ly clai#e! to be al#ost as goo! as that of the Mi5--2 Fulcru# %although the s#all "ings of the Freestyle #a$e this e+tre#ely !oubtful&. Flight
testing "as originally inten!e! to continue until 1223 but !e*elo)#ent "as sto))e! in 0ugust 1221 !ue to the shrin$ing So*iet #ilitary bu!get.
Fa$o*le* fun!e! the !e*elo)#ent fro# its o"n resources for a "hile in the ho)es of attracting a foreign in*estor. The secon! flight )rototy)e "as
!estroye! after a har! lan!ing on the 0!#iral 5orsh$o* aircraft carrier on 3 October 1221. The follo"ing year the sur*i*ing )rototy)e "as
!e#onstrate! at the Farnborough 0ir Sho" but the !esign bureau "as still unable to fin! a #ar$et for the !esign. Ti) Jets: 0 co#)oun! autogyro
trans#its full )o"er to the rotor for *ertical flight an! transfers )o"er to a hori8ontal )ro)ulsion !e*ice for for"ar! flight "ith "ings )ro*i!ing lift to allo"
the aircraft to fly faster than a con*entional helico)ter. Ti) Jet aircraft )u#) fuel an! co#)resse! air to s#all burner cha#bers at the rotor ti)s. This
co#bustion generates thrust "hich turns the rotor.
)3. M"Do#ll 'V(1
Mc9onnell=s ti) @et autogyro the ?V-1 "as )o"ere! by a single 33. h) Continental C-2:3-12 nine-cylin!er ra!ial )iston engine. 4t !ro*e t"o air
co#)ressors to )o"er the (1 ft three-bla!e! rotor for *ertical lift an! )o"ere! a 7 ft !ia#eter t"o-bla!e! )ro)eller #ounte! at the rear of the fuselage
for for"ar! flight. 0 s#all rotor at the en! of each tail boo# )ro*i!e! ya" control. O*erall length "as 3. ft "ith a -7 ft "ings)an. D#)ty "eight "as
'(.. lb "hich increase! to a #a+i#u# gross "eight of 33.. lb. First tether test "as in 123' "ith the first free flight on 11 February of that year. First
transition to hori8ontal flight "as on -2 0)ril 123'. The secon! of the t"o aircraft "as !a#age! in autorotation testing in 9ece#ber 123'. On 1.
October 1233 the ?V-1 e+cee!e! conte#)orary rotor-"ing s)ee! recor!s by hitting -.. #)h. Bith con*entional helico)ters i#)ro*ing their cruise
s)ee!s ho"e*er the )rogra# "as cancele! in 123:.
)5. Fair#7 Roto$7#
The >ritish co#)any Fairey ha! built se*eral co#)oun! helico)ters in the 12'.s. One of these "as #o!ifie! "ith ti) @ets as the Jet 5yro!yne in 123(.
>ase! on this !ata Fairey !esigne! the ((... lb Coto!yne a '. )assenger trans)ort )o"ere! by t"o -;.. sh) Ha)ier Dlan! ( turbine engines. The
fuselage "as 32 ft long "ith nearly ((.. cubic feet of internal *olu#e en!ing in rear cla#shell loa!ing !oors. The 7. ft !ia#eter four-bla!e! rotor "as
rotate! by ti)-@ets in *ertical flight an! autorotate! in cruise )ro*i!ing about half of the aero!yna#ic lift. 9uring transition the engine )o"er "as
transferre! by hy!raulic clutches to t"o four-bla!e! tractor )ro)ellers #i!-#ounte! on the '7 ft "i!e "ings. 4n ho*er an! for"ar! flight ya" "as
controlle! by !ifferential )ro)eller )itch "hile )itch an! roll "ere )ro!uce! by the cyclic rotor )itch. 0ero!yna#ic surfaces aug#ente! control in for"ar!
flight. First flight in helico)ter #o!e "as on 7 Ho*e#ber 123:. The first transitions "ere begun in 0)ril 123; "ith )roble#s #a$ing satisfactory ti) @et
relights at altitu!e being sol*e! by that October. Ti) @et noise "as e+tre#ely un)leasant !ri*ing a significantly #o!ifie! )ro!uction *ersion "ith lo"er
)ressure ti) @ets. 9es)ite a))arent co##ercial interest Fairey "as ta$en o*er by Bestlan! causing the )rogra# to fi88le out in about 127-.
AUGMENTED POWER PLANT FOR HOVER
This class of aircraft used the po$erplant&s, to drive an au'iliary device &either e3ector augmentors or lift fans, to provide additional vertical thrust in
hover.
E@#"tor
23ecting high pressure engine efflu' into a channel &called an augmentor, causes additional cooler am-ient air to accelerate through the channel and
mi' $ith the engine e'haust. At the e'it of the augmentor, the com-ined flo$ produces more thrust than the input engine efflu'< the net increase is the
amount of augmentation. =n la-oratory tests, thrust augmentation of "./ to > times engine thrust $as achieved. =n reality, incomplete mi'ing, duct
losses, unanticipated high $eight and ram drag, and the huge volume re5uired for the augmented 3et e3ector systems caused the theory to -e difficult
to apply to a possi-le operational concept.
)6. Lo"2h##$ 'V(/A H,<<i-=ir$
Loc$hee! began )ri*ate research into e@ector aug#ention syste#s for VTOL aircraft in 1232. They recei*e! a GS 0r#y contract in July 1271 to buil!
t"o of their Hu##ingbir! aircraft as the ?V-'0. The Hu##ingbir! ha! a "ings)an of -7 ft an! a length of (- ft )ri#arily consisting of a bo+y fuselage
that house! the e@ectors an! aug#entors. 0long each si!e of the aircraft a /ratt A Bhitney JT1-0 turbo@et engine )ro!uce! ((.. lb thrust either for
hori8ontal flight or !i*erte! into the aug#entor e@ectors for *ertical ta$e-off an! lan!ing. The t"o engines fe! interlea*e! e@ectors in case of engine
failure. 4n transition one engine "as !i*erte! fro# the e@ectors to )ro*i!ing for"ar! thrust until "ing-borne lift allo"e! the secon! engine to !o the
sa#e, the aug#entors !oors "ere then close!. The aug#entors "ere constructe! of stainless steel an! titaniu# accounting for a significant )ortion of
the 3... lb e#)ty "eight an! the :-.. lb gross "eight. 0ctual *ertical thrust after installation losses "as about :3.. lb for a 1..' thrust-to-"eight.
This "as only a 1'J net aug#entation. First con*entional flight "as on : July 127-. First tethere! ho*er on (. Ho*e#ber of that year "as follo"e! by
first free ho*er on -' May 127(. First transition "as not co#)lete! until ; Ho*e#ber 127(. The first aircraft crashe! on 1. June 127' $illing the )ilot.
)0. Ro"2>#ll 'FV(1%A
Coc$"ell 4nternational=s ?FV-1-0 "as a su)ersonic fighter/attac$ EThrust 0ug#enter BingE conce)t. The !esign use! a #o!ifie! (.... lb thrust %in
afterburner& /ratt A Bhitney F'.1 engine %a larger Ha*y cousin of the F1.. "hich "as cancele! before )ro!uction&. For *ertical lift a !i*erter *al*e in
the engine e+haust syste# bloc$e! the no88le an! !irecte! the gases through !ucts to e@ector no88les in the "ings an! canar!s for *ertical lift. The
thrust of the s)an"ise e@ectors coul! be #o!ulate! by *arying the !iffuser angle: )itch an! roll "ere controlle! by !ifferential *ariation of the four
e@ectors fro# fore to aft an! left to right, ya" "as controlle! by !ifferential e@ector *ectoring. 0n au+iliary engine inlet for use in *ertical flight "as locate!
i##e!iately behin! the coc$)it. The )rototy)e aircraft use! )arts fro# the 0-' an! F-', the fuselage "as '' ft long "ith a -;.3 ft "ings)an an! a 1- ft
canar! s)an. O)erational *ertical ta$e-off "eight "as e+)ecte! to be 123.. lb "ith a #a+i#u# s)ee! of o*er Mach - antici)ate! by Coc$"ell. Dngine
rig testing began testing in 12:' aircraft groun! testing in July 12:: an! sus)en!e! tether trials con!ucte! in 12:;. Only one of t"o contracte! aircraft
"ere co#)lete! in or!er to curtail increasing costs. Lab tests "ere inter)rete! to sho" that 33J aug#entation coul! be antici)ate! but !ifferences
fro# the lab #o!els to the full scale syste# cause! the actual aug#entation to be onlu 12J for the "ing an! 7J for the canar!. Lift i#)ro*e#ent
testing an! )lans to #o!ify the e@ector/aug#entor syste# "ere !iscontinue! in 12;1 !ue to cost o*erruns an! "aning Ha*y V/STOL interest.
Fa
1y driving a hori.ontal oriented ducted propeller or fan -uried in the aircraft $ing or fuselage, engine po$er can -e redirected to provide increased
vertical thrust for hover around the center of gravity.
/.. Va-,ar$ O<i*la#
4n February 1232 t"o for#er /iasec$i engineers for#e! the Vanguar! 0ir an! Marine Cor)oration to !esign an! buil! an e+ecuti*e VTOL aircraft.
Their first !esign the Mo!el -C O#ni)lane use! a -3 ft long Drcou)e light )lane fuselage an! "eighe! -7.. lb. The roun! "ings each house! a 7 ft
!ia#eter three-bla!e! )ro)eller that "as #echanically !ri*en for *ertical flight by a -73 h) Lyco#ing O-3'.-010 si+ cylin!er )iston engine. 9uring
for"ar! flight co*ers abo*e the rotors an! lou*ers belo" seale! the "ing for aero!yna#ic lift. For"ar! thrust "as )ro!uce! by a 3 ft !ia#eter
shrou!e! )ro)eller in the tail. Dle*ator an! ru!!er surfaces i##e!iately behin! the rear fan controlle! )itch an! ya" "hile !ifferential )ro)eller bla!e
)itch affecte! roll in ho*er. 5roun! tests starting in 0ugust 1232 an! inclu!ing tethere! ho*er trials "ere follo"e! by H0S0 full-scale "in! tunnel
testing. Mo!ifications to the O#ni)lane in 1271 inclu!ing an i#)ro*e! control syste# u)gra!ing to a ;7. h) Lyco#ing FT3(-L-1 turboshaft engine
an! 3 ft nose e+tension to house a thir! lifting )ro)eller le! to the re!esignation -9. The nose )ro)eller i#)ro*e! control in )itch as "ell as in ya"
through the use of #o*able e+it *anes. The -9 co#)lete! tethere! ho*er tests but "as !a#age! by a #echanical failure an! !iscontinue! in early
127-.
/1. GE(R7a 'V(1A V#rtifa
0fter t"o years of research in Ho*e#ber 1271 5eneral Dlectric "on a GS 0r#y contract to !e*elo) its fan-in-"ing conce)t the ?V-30. 9esign
construction an! flight testing of the aircraft "as sub-contracte! to Cyan but 5D retaine! res)onsibility for the )ro)ulsion syste# an! its integration into
the aircraft. The ?V-3 "as '' ft long "ith a (. ft "ings)an. 4n the inboar! )ortion of each "ing a 3 ft !ia#eter fan )ro*i!e! *ertical lift. 0 s#aller fan in
the nose in front of the t"o )erson coc$)it gi*e )itch control an! a!!itional lift. The fans )ro*i!ing a total *ertical thrust of 17... lb "ere !ri*en by the
e+haust gases of t"o -73. lb thrust 5D J;3-5D-3 turbo@ets. Bith a :... lb e#)ty "eight an! a 1--.. lb gross "eight the Vertifan ha! (1J e+cess
)o"er. The "ing fans rotate! in o))osite !irections an! "ere co*ere! by hinge! !oors "hile the nose fan "as co*ere! by lou*ers. The "ing fans
"hich !ifferentially affecte! roll e+hauste! into lou*ere! *anes that coul! *ector the thrust fore aft or laterally also controlling ya". 0 thrust s)oiler
allo"e! the engines to throttle to full )o"er before the fans "ere starte!. T"o aircraft "ere built, the first one fle" fro# -3 May 127' until it crashe! the
follo"ing 0)ril $illing the )ilot !uring a transition atte#)t. First ho*er "as in June 127' an! first transition in Ho*e#ber 127'. The secon! aircraft fle"
until it crashe! in October 1277 %also $illing the )ilot& but "as rebuilt as the ?V-3>. This ha! a "i!er lan!ing gear ha! an i#)ro*e! coc$)it an!
re#o*e! the thrust s)oiler. 4t began flying on -' June 127;. The !ra"bac$s of the Vertifan "ere the large *olu#e an! "eight occu)ie! by the lift
syste# slo" control res)onse an! the narro" transition corri!or.
/%. Lo"2h##$ Marti '()1
0s )art of the Joint Stri$e Fighter %JSF& )rogra# the Loc$hee! Martin ?-(3 conce)t !e#onstrator %artist=s !ra"ing abo*e& "ill use a !eri*ati*e of the
/ratt A Bhitney F112 engine. 4n short ta$e-off an! *ertical lan!ing %STOVL& #o!e the engine !ri*es a shaft "hich turns an 0llison lift fan ahea! of the
center of gra*ity. 9oors abo*e an! belo" the *ertically #ounte! lift fan o)en before it s)ins u). The rear lift force an! ya" control is )ro*i!e! by a
s"i*eling e+haust no88le fro# the engine si#ilar to that of the Fa$-1'1 %L(3&. Coll control is )ro*i!e! by t"o roll no88les using !ucte! engine fan
by)ass air. First flight is )lanne! for -.... The "inner of the JSF source selection in -..1 "ill then !e*elo) its o)erational *ersion of the conce)t as a
su)ersonic #ultirole aircraft to re)lace the Harrier. Loc$hee! Martin teste! a ;7J scale F1..-)o"ere! #o!el in 1223-1227 for nearly -.. hours
inclu!ing testing in H0S0=s full si8e! "in! tunnel.
Rotor
?or design missions $here the aircraft needs to spend a large amount of time in hover, the rotor is the most efficient lifting device. @o$ever, it is very
difficult for the rotor to propel the aircraft for$ard and provide lift at a high velocity. =n order to increase ma'imum velocity, a variety of methods have
-een used to add propellers and $ings to rotor aircraft, forming compound helicopters.
/). ?a<o8 ?a(%% Vito2r7l EHoo*E
The Ma--- Vinto$ryl %=Scre" Bing=& "as a large t"in-turboshaft )o"ere! con*erti)lane that !ebute! at the So*iet Hational 0*iation 9ay !is)lay on 2
July 1271 in Tushino. 0t each en! of the high straight "ing "as a 73.. sh) Solo*ie* 9--3VM engine "hich )o"ere! a four-bla!e! rotor for *ertical
flight an! a four-bla!e! )ro)eller for cruise. Dach engine "as )rogressi*ely clutche! bet"een the t"o syste#s to transition bet"een the t"o #o!es of
flight. The engine "as a nine-stage single s)ool turboshaft #o!ifie! fro# the 33.. sh) 9--3V engine use! on the Mil Mi-7 Mi-1. an! V-1-
helico)ters. The final turbine stage "as a free-"heel that !ro*e the gearbo+. The fuselage house! a loa!ing ra#) that coul! be use! for freight or
*ehicles an! coul! carry (7'.. lb of cargo or ;. seats %although this "as ne*er !one&. The tricycle lan!ing gear "as fi+e! an! the entire nose area
"as gla8e! for goo! *isibility es)ecially in lan!ing. The high flight !ec$ acco##o!ate! t"o )ilots a ra!io o)erator an! engineer. Flight testing began
on -. 0)ril 127.. On : October 1271 the Vinto$ryl set a Class D. 44 s)ee! recor! of --1.' #)h o*er a 13/-3 $# course. On -' Ho*e#ber 1271 it lifte!
a recor! )ayloa! of (7('( lb to a height of 737- ft %- $#& as "ell as se*eral other )ayloa! to altitu!e recor!s. The Ma--- "as aban!one! after a
crash in 127'.
//. Pia!#"2i 13H(1 Pathfi$#r
The (: ft long )ri*ately !e*elo)e! /iasec$i 17H-1 "eighe! 11... lb an! ha! a "ings)an of -. ft. The fi*e-seat /athfin!er "as originally )o"ere! by a
33. h) /ratt A Bhitney /T7>-- turboshaft engine. The engine )o"ere! a '1 ft fully articulate! three-bla!e! rotor an! a 3.3 ft three-bla!e! !ucte!
)ro)eller in the tail %calle! a Ering-tailE& to )ro*i!e for"ar! thrust an! !irectional an! anti-tor6ue control "ith four *ertical *anes in the !uct. 5ross "eight
"as -711 lb an! fuselage length "as -3 ft. The 17H-1 #a!e its first flight on -1 February 127-. O*erall the /athfin!er ha! the han!ling 6ualities of a
con*entional helico)ter but use! its "ings an! )usher )ro)eller to off-loa! the rotor an! increase its #a+i#u# for"ar! *elocity to 1'; $t. 1;3 flight
hours "ere accu#ulate! before May 127' "hen /iasec$i "as contracte! to test a high s)ee! #o!ification the 17H-10 /athfin!er 44. 4t "as e6ui))e!
"ith a 1-3. sh) T3; turboshaft engine a ne" !ri*e syste# an! )ro)eller to han!le the increase! )o"er. The rotor si8e "as increase! to '' ft
!ia#eter an! the fuselage "as stretche! to acco##o!ate eight seats. Flight testing resu#e! on 13 Ho*e#ber 1273 an! it accrue! o*er '. hours in
the air by May 1277 reaching s)ee!s of 123 $t. Later it "as re!esignate! the 17H-1C "hen the engine "as u)gra!e! to a 13.. sh) T3;-5D-3.
/1. Lo"2h##$ AH(13 +h#7##
Loc$hee! research into co#)oun! rigi! rotor helico)ters began in the early 127.s using the ?H-31. 4n 1277 Loc$hee!=s !esign for an o)erational
attac$ helico)ter the 0H-37 Cheyenne "on the contract to buil! the GS 0r#y=s 0!*ance! 0erial Fire Su))ort Syste# %00FSS&. The Cheyenne ha! a
('(3 sh) 5eneral Dlectric T7'-5D-17 turboshaft engine that )o"ere! a rigi! 3. ft four-bla!e! rotor as "ell as a 1. ft three-bla!e! )usher )ro)eller
an! a four-bla!e! anti-tor6ue rotor on the tail. 4n hori8ontal flight al#ost the entire engine out)ut is use! to !ri*e the )ro)eller. The 0H-37 "eighe!
1-... lb e#)ty ha! a 33 ft long fuselage an! a -: ft "ings)an. Ma+i#u# *ertical ta$e-off "eight "as --... lb but a short ta$e-off coul! be #a!e at
-;... lb. First flight "as on -1 Se)te#ber 127:. The #a+i#u# !esign s)ee! of o*er -3. #)h coul! not be reache! ho"e*er !ue to a !angerous
rotor instability abo*e -.. #)h. The thir! of ten )rototy)es crashe! on 1- March 1272 "hen the rotor i#)acte! the front an! rear fuselage $illing the
)ilot. The 0H-37 "as highly agile an! a *ery ca)able "ea)on syste# but !e*elo)#ent "as halte! in 12:- !ue to !efense cutbac$s. 0 )ro!uction
or!er of (:3 0H-37s ha! been a))ro*e! in 127; but cancele! the ne+t year also as a result of bu!get cuts.
Air"raft That Di$Et Ma2# Th# Wh##lF
0 strict set of criteria "as use! to select the aircraft for the "heel of V/STOL 0ircraft an! /ro)ulsion Conce)ts. Only aircraft "hich "ere actually teste!
"ith the intention to !e#onstrate or !e*elo) an o)erational aircraft conce)t ca)able of Vertical or Short Ta$e-Off an! Lan!ing an! con*entional for"ar!
flight "ere selecte! %although the JSF ?-(- an! ?-(3 conce)t !e#onstrators "ill not fly until -... they are inclu!e! for illustrati*e )ur)oses&. 0ircraft
that !i! not #eet these criteria inclu!e!:
/latfor#s groun! effect #achines con*entional helico)ters an! autogyros an! )urely STOL aircraft,
Hu#erous !esign stu!ies such as the DBC-Ce)ublic V/STOL Con*air -.. Si$ors$y ?-Bing an! others that "ere ne*er built, an!
Cesearch helico)ters "here a @et engine "as use! solely to increase #a+i#u# s)ee! such as the Loc$hee! ?H-310 the Fairey Jet
5yro!yne the Si$ors$y S-:- Cotor Syste#s Cesearch 0ircraft an! the Si$ors$y ?H-32 0!*ancing >la!e Conce)t %0>C&.
Vi!io for th# F,t,r#F
O*er the )ast half-century #any !ifferent ty)es of V/STOL aircraft ha*e been built an! teste! "hile #any #ore ne*er left the !ra"ing boar!. To!ay the
future loo$s bright for V/STOL. 4n the ne+t half-century "e "ill see the V--- Os)rey achie*e o)erational ser*ice as "ell as a )ossible co##ercial tilt
rotor. The Harrier "ill en! its res)ectable career but the su)ersonic STOVL Joint Stri$e Fighter "ill enter the in*entories of the GS Marine Cor)s an!
allie! nations. The secon! half-century of V/STOL )ro#ises to be e*en #ore e+citing than the firstN
A=o,t th# A,thor GA! of <ar"h 1005HF
Mi$e Hirschberg is an aeros)ace engineer at 0HSDC 4nc. He currently su))orts the /ro)ulsion Manage#ent Tea# for the Joint Stri$e Fighter
/rogra#. /re*ious )ositions ha*e inclu!e! su))orting the 0ssistant Secretary of the 0ir Force for 0c6uisition on the F--- a!*ance! tactical fighter an!
F112 engine )rogra#s an! "or$ing as a )ro@ect engineer on *arious soli! roc$et #otor !e*elo)#ent )rogra#s. He has authore! se*eral )a)ers on
engine !e*elo)#ent an! V/STOL aircraft inclu!ing the u)co#ing 0400 Case Stu!y on So*iet V/STOL 0ircraft.
F,rth#r R#a$i-F
Soviet V/STOL Aircraft; The Struggle for a Ship-orne Com-at Capa-ility Michael J. Hirschberg 0#erican 4nstitute of 0eronautics an!
0stronautics June 122:.
The Aerman V/STOL ?ighter Program; A Buest for Surviva-ility in a Theater Cuclear 2nvironment 0lbert C. /iccirillo 0#erican 4nstitute of
0eronautics an! 0stronautics June 122:.
E0 Status Ce*ie" of Hon-Helico)ter V/STOL 0ircraft 9e*elo)#ent %/art 1 of -&E >ernar! Lin!enbau# Vertiflite March-0)ril 122..
VTOL Dilitary 8esearch Aircraft Mi$e Cogers Orion >oo$s 12;2.
EHistorical O*er*ie" of V/STOL 0ircraft TechnologyE Seth 0n!erson H0S0 Technical Me#oran!u# ;1-;. 0#es Cesearch Center March
12;1.
E4ntro!uction to V/STOL 0ircraft Conce)ts an! CategoriesE /hilli) /oisson-Ruinton 050C9ogra)h 1-7 May 127;.
+r#$it!F
V/STOL "heel gra)hic by Mi$e Hirschberg an! Jac$ >utler 0HSDC. For an electronic co)y of the V/STOL "heel clic$ here.
Than$s to Sa# Bilson 0V49 LLC an! Hal 0n!re"s for their in*aluable assistance "ith the gra)hic an! the article.
VSTOL Wheel
http://www.vstol.org/wheel