Curtiss-Wright VZ-7

The Curtiss-Wright VZ-7 (also known as the VZ-7AP[1]) was a VTOL quadrotor helicopter aircraft designed by the Curtiss-Wright company for the US Army. Like the Chrysler VZ-6 and the VZ-8 Airgeep it was to be a "flying jeep".

VZ-7
Role VTOL utility aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Curtiss-Wright
First flight 1958 ?
Retired 1960
Status Canceled
Primary user United States Air Force
Number built 2

Design and development

The Aerophysics Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Curtiss-Wright, designed an "Aerial Platform" for a US Army Transport and Research Command "Flying Jeep" design competition. The Aerophysics design sat two in tandem between four ducted fan rotors and could also be armed with machine-guns or recoil-less rifles.[2]

To prove the design concept the US Army ordered two prototypes of a smaller single-seat demonstrator, the VZ-7, which were delivered to the US Army in mid-1958. The VZ-7 had a fuselage with the pilot's seat, fuel tanks and flight controls. On both sides of the fuselage the four propeller/rotors were attached, unshrouded (the aircraft did originally have shrouds, but these were later removed). The VZ-7 was controlled by changing the thrust of each propeller and was maneuverable and easy to fly.

Operational history

The aircraft performed well during tests, but was not able to meet the Army's standards, therefore it was retired and returned to the manufacturer in 1960.

One VZ-7 is part of the United States Army Aviation Museum aircraft collection at Fort Rucker. However, it is not currently on public display due to space restrictions.[3][4]

Specifications

Data from Flying Jeeps[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
  • Width: 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
  • Empty weight: 1,700 lb (771 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,100 lb (953 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Artouste IIB turboshaft engine, 425 shp (317 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 32 mph (51 km/h, 28 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 25 mph (40 km/h, 22 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 200 ft (61 m)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. "The American Industry" Flight 19 August 1960 p247
  2. Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1958). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. pp. 252–253.
  3. Rotary Wing Collection of the US Army Aviation Museum Archived July 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Forum discussion with many pictures of aircraft in storage (incl. the VZ-7)". Archived from the original on 2012-07-21. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  5. Harding 1998, p. 12.
  • Harding, Stephen (January–February 1998). "Flying Jeeps: The U.S. Army's Search for the ultimate 'Vehicle'". Air Enthusiast. No. 73. pp. 10–12. ISSN 0143-5450.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.