Ryan VZ-3 Vertiplane

VZ-3 Vertiplane
Role Experimental VTOL aircraft
Manufacturer Ryan
First flight December 29, 1958
Primary users United States Army
NASA
Number built 1
Ryan VZ-3RY Vertiplane in flight over the NASA Ames Research Center.

The Ryan VZ-3 Vertiplane, also known by the company designation Ryan Model 92 was an American experimental vertical/short take-off (VSTOL) aircraft built by the Ryan Aeronautical Company for the United States Army.

Design and development

The VZ-3 was a simple proof-of-concept experimental aircraft using blown flaps to achieve a short or near vertical take-off. It was a high-wing monoplane powered by an Avco Lycoming T53 turboshaft engine located inside the fuselage driving two large-diameter propellers mounted, one on each wing. It had a T-tail and originally a tailwheel fixed landing gear. It had wide-span double retractable trailing-edge flaps, these were extended into the propeller slipstream for takeoff. To enable control while in the hover it had a universally-jointed jet-deflection nozzle at the rear of the aircraft. It was later modified with a nose-wheel landing gear.

The VZ-3 could make a near-vertical takeoff within 30 ft (9m) at a speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) and the aircraft could be put into the hover up to a height of 3,700 ft (1,100 m).

Operational history

The aircraft conducted a 21-flight test program for the United States Army until it crashed in 1959. It was rebuilt with an open cockpit lengthened fuselage and handed over to NASA for further trials. Following retirement the VZ-3 is on display at the United States Army Aviation Museum.[1]

Operator

 United States

Specifications

Data from Jane's 1976.[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 27 ft 8 in (8.43 m)
  • Wingspan: 23 ft 5 in (7.14 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 8 in (3.25 m)
  • Gross weight: 2,600 lb (1,179 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Avco Lycoming T53-L-1 turboshaft, 1,000 shp (750 kW)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ "Vertical Flight Collection." Archived 2010-06-15 at the Wayback Machine Army Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 19 June 2010.
  2. ^ Taylor 1976, p. 197.
Bibliography
  • Andrade, John M. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979, p. 178. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985, p. 2837.
  • Taylor, John W.R. Jane's Pocket Book of Research and Experimental Aircraft, London, Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd, 1976. ISBN 0356 08409 4.
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