May 062011
 

This chart from Bell Aerospace shows a bunch of their designs for VTOL aircraft, from 1941 to 1965:

Shown are the evolution of the D-188 series, as well as the predecessors and proposed derivatives of the X-22 ducted-prop concept. The D-190 is a design that has interested me for some years, but which has evaded me (at least as far as detailed drawings, basic data like dimensions, weights, performance, etc.).

 Posted by at 11:21 pm

  5 Responses to “Bell VTOL Studies”

  1. On the chart, the X-14 leads to something that’s listed as the Advanced V/STOL, and that’s “Secret”.
    It seems to be similar to the duPont Aerospace DP-2 VTOL aircraft concept:
    http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/dp-2.htm
    Wonder if that’s where the DP-2 idea came from.

  2. Here’s a new Bell design that uses a semi-tilt-rotor:
    http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2009/05/poster-bells-new-hybrid-tandem.html
    (picture can be left click enlarged, which shows this is an attack on the city of the Mushroom People. )
    In forward flight with the wing down, the rotor blades must autorotate to add lift.

    • >a new Bell design

      Not really “new,” as that article is from exactly two years ago. Which means the concept has probably been cancelled for at least 18 months.

  3. […] serve as the basis of a Tri-Service transport (such as the D-2022 and D-2064 shown in upper right HERE), but the technology went no further. It would be interesting to ponder what an assault on Osamas […]

  4. Where is the Rocket Belt? They don’t get more VTOL than that!

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