EG-0103-01
The two Bell XV-15 Tiltrotor aircraft were involved in limited research at the Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center in 1980 and 1981. The XV-15 combines standard aircraft cruise flight with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. The first XV-15 Tiltrotor flight for NASA/Dryden occurred in October 1980 at the Army contingent at Edwards Air Force Base, Edwards, California.
The development of the XV-15 Tiltrotor research aircraft was initiated in 1973 with joint Army/NASA funding as a “proof of concept”, or “technology demonstrator” program, with two aircraft being built by Bell Helicopter Textron (BHT) in 1977. Ship number 1 was given NASA number 702, and ship #2 was 703. Aircraft development, airworthiness testing, and the basic “proof of concept” testing were completed in September 1979.
The aircraft are powered by twin Lycoming T-53 turboshaft engines that are connected by a cross-shaft and drive three-bladed, 25 ft diameter metal rotors (the size extensively tested in a wind tunnel). The engines and main transmissions are located in wingtip nacelles to minimize the operational loads on the cross-shaft system and, with the rotors, tilt as a single unit…Learn more