LTV XC-142

  • Vought Aircraft Industries
  • Hiller Aircraft
  • Ryan Aeronautical

The Ling- Temco - Vought (LTV ) XC -142 was built in the 1960s, American V / STOL aircraft change with assurance. Although the prototypes were among the most successful VTOL that time, was never mass-produced.

Was developed the XC -142 Vought Aeronautics together with Hiller Aircraft and Ryan Aeronautical and is therefore also known as Vought - Hiller - Ryan XC -142. At the Federal Aviation Administration however this type is registered as Ling- Temco - Vought XC -142 (FAA Code 5210808 ).

History

1959 published the Princeton University for the U.S. Department of Defense a study of requirements for future VTOL and V / STOL aircraft, based on data from previous test series. Based on this study enrolled 1961, the three largest branches of the armed forces of the U.S. military (Army, Navy and Air Force, all three together also referred to as the "Tri- Service"), the development and construction of equivalent type. In September 1961, the concept of Vought Aeronautics (part of Ling- Temco - Vought ) as the winner of the tender was made. The Hiller Aircraft Corporation, which had a few years earlier designed the similar X -18, and the Ryan Aeronautical Company were responsible for the design and manufacture of machines.

The first of five prototypes had its rollout beginning of 1964, the first horizontal flight took place on 29 September 1964. These XC- 142A made ​​its first hovering flight on 29 December 1964, the transition to horizontal flight ( Transition) succeeded on 11 January 1965. According to these first test flights at Vought one flew the XC- 142A more than 1,900 miles from Dallas to Edwards Air Force Base and they surrendered on July 9, 1965 officially a team of 150 civil and military testers ( "Tri- service Test Force ").

Already in early tests, weaknesses of the drive shafts and the gear became noticeable. As a result of technical and weaknesses of each of the five pilot errors XC -142 was involved in at least one accident with severe damage. The most serious accident happened on a test flight from Vought near Dallas in May 1967. In a simulated rescue operation of the propeller control and the machine failed crashed into a wooded area. Three crew members were killed.

However, access to the machines numerous maneuvers, including search and rescue simulations, inserts on aircraft carriers and air assault operations. But after mediocre results of a test series of the military ( "Category II Operational Suitability Program "), which was conducted from July to August 1967, and consisted of 113 flights, the setting of the program was decided. The only remaining machine was handed over to NASA for further testing. Up to this point, 39 pilots had completed a total of about 420 hours of flight time on the XC -142. The XC -142 was the greatest whiz who ever landed on an aircraft carrier and launched.

1970 also ended the NASA their tests and handed over the equipment to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The Vought designers already had plans for further development with more powerful T64 -GE- S4A - engines and a modified fuselage. However, when the military ended the test series, the project was not pursued even at Vought.

Successor

Based on the equally hapless experience with the Bell XV -3 tiltrotor aircraft built the Bell company in the late 1960s, the " Model 301 ", which completed the first hover on 3 May 1977, and derived from the XV- 15th It developed along with Bell Boeing V- 22 " Osprey ", which is now in the service of the United States Marine Corps.

Technology

The XC -142 had the hull of a medium-heavy transport aircraft and could carry up to 32 fully equipped soldiers. At the rear, there was a loading dock, which made the plane for light vehicles passable.

The four engines were mounted in the pivot-hung windows ( tilting angle: 100 ° ) and connected by a shaft system together so that only one engine was sufficient to enable all propeller to rotate. However, at least two engines were required for level flight. The control in hovering flight was accomplished by a pitch GfK main propeller, supported by the control surfaces located in the air stream. Furthermore, had the XC 142 at the rear of a horizontal propeller, with which the pitch control is facilitated. An electronic system provided the necessary balance permanent movements of all control surfaces, control of engines and simulated resistance forces on the controls ( a " Force Feedback"). In an emergency, the electronic aids could be bypassed by the pilot.

Specifications

  • 3629 kg ( VTOL)
  • 5443 kg ( STOL )
  • 740 km (VTOL and acc payload )
  • 1110 km ( STOL and acc payload )
Hiller X-18 General Electric T64 Bell XV-3 Bell XV-15 Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey Curtiss-Wright X-19 Canadair CL-84 Bell X-22 Bell V-280 Valor United States Army Air Service United States Army Air Corps Douglas C-1 Fokker F.VII Ford Trimotor Fokker F.10 Sikorsky S-38 Lockheed Vega Northrop Alpha Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing Douglas C-54 Skymaster Douglas B-18 Bolo Noorduyn Norseman Douglas B-23 Dragon Boeing 247 Douglas C-74 Globemaster Stinson Reliant Fairchild C-82 Packet Budd RB Conestoga Taylorcraft L-2 Boeing 314 Convair XC-99 Grumman F3F Boeing XB-15 Douglas DC-5 Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar Douglas C-124 Globemaster II Douglas C-133 Cargomaster Boeing C-135 Stratolifter Vought V-173 Vought F4U Corsair Vought F6U Pirate Vought F7U Cutlass Vought SB2U Vindicator SSM-N-8 Regulus ASM-135 ASAT
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