Fairchild VZ-5

The Fairchild VZ-5 (or Model M-224-1) was a 1950s American experimental VTOL research aircraft built by Fairchild Aircraft for the United States Army.

VZ-5
Role VTOL research aircraft,
National origin United States
Manufacturer Fairchild Aircraft
First flight 1959
Primary user United States Army
Number built 1

Development

Built for the United States Army with the designation VZ-5, this prototype was one of a series of experimental aircraft designed to investigate various aspects and solutions for VTOL aircraft. The VZ-5 was an all-metal high-wing monoplane with a fixed tricycle undercarriage. The fuselage had an open cockpit for one pilot and a rear-mounted high-tailplane. The unusual aspect of the aircraft was that it had one General Electric turboshaft in the rear fuselage driving four propellers, two each mounted in nacelles on the leading edge of each wing. It also had two small four-bladed tail-rotors mounted above the tailplane for control. The wing had conventional trailing edge flaps and ailerons but it also had a section of the wing that could be deflected to act as a full-span flap. For a vertical takeoff two-thirds of the wing chord acted as a flap in the slipstream of the four propellers.

The VZ-5 was first flown tethered on 18 November 1959 but only had limited testing before the project was abandoned. Also see Deflected slipstream for information on the VTOL technology employed with the VZ-5.

Operators
 United States

Specifications (VZ-5)
The VZ-5 with fully extended flaps

Data from

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 33 ft 8 in (10.26 m)
  • Wingspan: 32 ft 9 in (9.98 m)
  • Height: 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m)
  • Wing area: 191 sq ft (17.7 m2)
  • Empty weight: 3,382 lb (1,534 kg)
  • Gross weight: 3,976 lb (1,803 kg) (for VTOL)
  • Powerplant: 1 × General Electric YT58-GE-2 turboshaft engine, 1,032 shp (770 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 184 mph (296 km/h, 160 kn) (estimate)
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See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

    Further reading
    • Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1958). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 301.
    • Andrade, John (1979). US military aircraft designations and serials since 1909. Leicester: Midland Counties Publications. p. 171. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
    • The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft. London: Orbis Publications. 1985.

    Media related to Fairchild VZ-5 at Wikimedia Commons

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