![]() ![]() Most of the vehicles shown on the “wheel” failed to lead anywhere useful, and a large percentage of them served more to show why an approach was a poor idea than to show a path to the future.Īs of the time of this writing, only four non-helicopter VTOL aircraft have entered regular service: The Harrier vectored-thrust jet the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor the Russian Yak-38 Forger, which used a vectoring main engine and a separate forward-mounted lift jet and, just arriving on the scene, the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter variant, which uses a vectoring main jet engine, and a shaft-driven lift fan in the forward fuselage. What is striking is that although a huge number of methods of providing VTOL capability have been tried, and many have flown as experimental research vehicles, very few have made it into production or regular use. For a very interesting overview of this history, take a look at the “Wheel of Misfortune” graphic at the AHS International web site. Many ways of achieving vertical takeoff have been tried, with widely varying levels of success. The major advantage of a VTOL airplane, and the thing that keeps designers seeking that magic solution, is freedom from the requirement for runways and airports. ![]()
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