XV-5 Vertifan
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The Ryan XV-5 Vertifan was a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. It was originally designated the VZ-11RY Vertifan, but was redesignated in 1962.
It was one of many attempts by the US to produce jet-powered V/STOL aircraft, though the second by Ryan which also made the tail sitting X-13 Vertijet. It used fans in the thick wings and nose to produce lift, with covers that flipped up, and twin jet engines and two-place cockpit. It competed with the XV-4 Hummingbird as the other U.S. Army funded project. It did work, but didn't produce as much lift as was hoped, and didn't fly much faster than WWII prop fighters. About this time, the Army also lost the charter to just about all fixed wing aircraft. Demonstrations were made of picking up dummies for crew recovery, but it was no sale. Only the British Harrier would become a successful fighter.
It was said that transition was very sudden, and would have been tricky as an operational craft.
There was an XV-5A, which was Army Green, and an XV-5B which had a white NASA paint scheme. After this plane, Ryan only made unmanned drones.
Specifications (XV-5)
External links
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