(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Air Force Museum: Some experimental VSTOL aircraft (photo diary) [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-09-22 The Research and Development Gallery in the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio contains several experiment VSTOL (Vertical/Short TakeOff and Landing) aircraft. Hawker Siddeley XV-6A Kestrel According to the Museum: The British-built Kestrel was a prototype Vertical/Short TakeOff and Landing (VSTOL) aircraft successfully tested in the 1960s. An improved version, known as the Harrier, became the world's first operational VSTOL fighter when it entered Royal Air Force (RAF) service in 1969. The first Kestrel began flight trials in 1961 in Britain. The next year, the United Kingdom, US, and the Federal Republic of Germany ordered nine aircraft for combined testing by those countries' representatives. A joint evaluation squadron, which included USAF pilots, conducted Kestrel trials in 1965. Six of these trial aircraft came to the United States where the US armed forces conducted additional testing. Although the US Air Force did not order it, the US Marine Corps and RAF operated the follow-on Harrier for several decades. This aircraft has a top speed of 650 mph. Chance-Vought/LTV XC-142A According to the Museum: Five tilt-wing XC-142As were built in the 1960s to explore the suitability of Vertical/Short TakeOff and Landing (VSTOL) transports. VSTOL transports permit rapid movement of troops and supplies into and out of unprepared areas. XC-142As were tested extensively by the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and NASA. An XC-142A first flew conventionally in September 1964 and performed its first transitional flight (vertical takeoff, changing to forward flight, and landing vertically) in January 1965. In tests, XC-142As were flown from airspeeds of 35 mph backwards to 400 mph forward. Although the XC-142A did not go into production, it foreshadowed future operational VSTOL transports like the V-22 Osprey. The aircraft on display -- the only remaining XC-142A -- was flown to the museum in 1970. This aircraft has a top speed of 400 mph, a cruising speed of 235 mph, a range of 820 miles, and a ceiling of 25,000 feet. Ryan X-13 Vertijet According to the Museum: The X-13 was built to prove the concept that a jet could take off vertically, transition to horizontal flight, and return to vertical flight for landing. Equipped with a temporary tricycle landing gear, the first of two X-13s flew conventionally in December 1955 to test its overall aerodynamic characteristics. It was then fitted with a temporary "tail sitting" rig, and in May 1956 this X-13 flew vertically to test its hovering qualities. The second X-13 -- on display at the museum -- made history in April 1957, when it completed the first full-cycle flight at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. It took off vertically from its mobile trailer, rose into the air, nosed over into a level attitude and flew for several minutes. Then, it reversed the procedure to vertical flight and slowly descended to its trailer for a safe landing. This X-13 also made demonstration flights in the Washington, D.C., area later that year. Even though the X-13 successfully proved the original concept, its design had limited operational potential, and a lack of funding shut down the program in 1958. The X-13 was transferred to the museum in 1959. This aircraft has a top speed of 350 mph and a ceiling of 20,000 feet. More aircraft Air Force Museum: Some experimental aircraft (photo diary) Air Force Museum: Experimental unmanned aircraft (photo diary) Air Force Museum: Some prototypes (photo diary) Air Force Museum: Vertical takeoff aircraft (photo diary) Air Force Museum: Space Gallery Aircraft (photo diary) Air Force Museum: The Valkyrie (photo diary) Air Force Museum: Air Park (photo diary) Air Force Museum: Lockheed F-22 Raptor (photo diary) [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/22/2194517/-Air-Force-Museum-Some-experimental-VSTOL-aircraft-photo-diary Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/