Monday, December 30, 2024

Ryan XV-5A Vertifan was a jet-powered V/STOL experimental aircraft in the 1960s.

 


More info here.

6 comments:

  1. You go first.
    No, YOU go first.
    I wonder at the wisdom of spending all the time and effort, not to mention the danger, at perfecting ponderous and complicated technology. What is the gain vs the penalty?

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    Replies
    1. You don't know until you try.

      Delete
    2. Before the Air Force lobby crushed the effort the Army was looking for an organic tactical air support capability. Something similar to the Marines who are authorized to have fixed wing tactical aircraft.

      Lots of arguments for and against but the fact is if the Air Force provided the tactical air support the Army requires the Army would have never had to invent the attack helicopter. About 800 of the Army’s 3,000 plus aircraft are attack helos.

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    3. What Anonymous 7:26A pointed out.

      The Key West Agreement forbad the Army from arming their organic fixed-wing aircraft, so it was left to the Marines to get the Harrier, and the Army had to fight tooth and nail to get the Air Farce to come out with the A-10, which they've since tried to kill off every year since it was first proposed, right up to now.

      To the Air Farce, CAS stands for Can't Accommodate you, Suckers.

      Delete
  2. Documentary on them said they where particularly capable aircraft, had pretty good top sped too.

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  3. Tom Swift designed the first and best operational VTOL with his 'Flying Lab.' This marvelous craft could do anything anytime anywhere much like the inventor along with his companions Bud and Chow.

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