Vertol VZ-2
The Vertol VZ -2 ( manufacturer's designation: Model 76) was an experimental VTOL aircraft transformation of the U.S. manufacturer Vertol Aircraft Corporation in the late 1950s. There was only one copy built, the USAF / Army serial number 56-6943 was wearing. The VZ -2 was the first Kippflügelflugzeug at all.
History
The development of the VZ -2 is based on a contract from the U.S. Army and the Office of Naval Research April 15, 1956. Should a tilt wing aircraft are being developed to study fundamental problems of VTOL aircraft with this structural interpretation. After the first start in hover on August 13, 1957, the first transition from hover to horizontal flight ( Transition) followed on 23 July 1958. After extensive testing by Army and Navy, the machine of NASA in 1960 passed, they and 1965 further operation. In this time, a redesign of the wing to increase the stability during the descent, and a gain of the drive transmission system is performed by NASA.
Overall, led by the VZ- 2450 flights over 50 hours of total flight time, of which 273 were flights with flight condition changes, including 34 full transitions.
Construction
The hull was constructed as a tubular lattice fuselage and initially undisguised. The highly glazed Bugkanzel, which was equipped with a dual control, was modified several times during the trial period. In the base of the T -tail two small ducted propeller were installed to control the supported around the vertical axis and the transverse axis at low speeds. The control about the longitudinal axis was in hover by a differential adjustment of the propeller blades.
The Lycoming YT -53- turbine shaft was sitting on the trunk and drove through a reduction gearbox and drive shafts two arranged in front of the wing leading edge large propellers. The all-metal wings could be tilted rectangle including the propeller between 0 and 90 °, but a start could be made also in any intermediate position.
Whereabouts
The aircraft is owned by the National Air and Space Museum, but is currently not issued (2010).