| 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 |
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".
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.[ citation needed ]
The aircraft performed well during tests but, not being able to meet the Army's standards, 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 Novosel. However, it is not currently on public display due to space restrictions. [3] [4]
Data from Flying Jeeps [5]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
The Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Jeep was an American twin-engined advanced trainer aircraft used by the United States during World War II to bridge the gap between single-engined trainers and twin-engined combat aircraft. The AT-9 had a low-wing cantilever monoplane configuration, retractable landing gear and was powered by two Lycoming R-680-9 radial engines.
The Curtiss-Wright X-19, company designation Model 200, was an American experimental tiltrotor aircraft of the early 1960s. It was noteworthy for being the last aircraft of any kind manufactured by Curtiss-Wright.
The Curtiss P-60 was a 1940s American single-engine single-seat, low-wing monoplane fighter aircraft developed by the Curtiss-Wright company as a successor to their P-40. It went through a lengthy series of prototype versions, eventually evolving into a design that bore little resemblance to the P-40. None of these versions reached production.
The Republic XP-69 was an American fighter aircraft proposed by Republic Aviation in 1941 in response to a requirement by the United States Army Air Corps for a high-speed fighter. Manufacturers were encouraged to consider unorthodox designs; although the design was ordered as a prototype it was canceled because of delays with the engine that was to power it.
The Piasecki VZ-8 Airgeep was a prototype vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft developed by Piasecki Aircraft. The Airgeep was developed to fulfill a U.S. Army Transportation Research Command contract for a flying jeep in 1957. The flying jeep was envisioned to be smaller and easier to fly than a helicopter.
The Aerosport Woody Pusher is a two-seat parasol wing monoplane designed for home building by Harris Woods, based closely on the Curtiss Junior. First marketed in the 1960s, at least 27 were flying by 1980.
The Brantly B-2 is an American two-seat light helicopter produced by the Brantly Helicopter Corporation.
The Fairchild VZ-5 was an experimental VTOL aircraft built in the 1950s. The VZ-5 was designed by Fairchild Aircraft for research use by the United States Army.
The Fiat Model 7002 was a 1960s Italian general-purpose helicopter with a tip jet driven rotor built by Fiat Aviazione. Only one aircraft was built.
The Curtiss Fledgling, known internally to Curtiss as the Model 48 and Model 51 was a trainer aircraft developed for the United States Navy in the late 1920s and known in that service as the N2C.
The Reid Rambler, later known under the Curtiss-Reid brand after Reid was purchased by Curtiss, was a biplane trainer/sport aircraft built in Canada in the early 1930s and used in small numbers as a trainer aircraft by the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The Pitcairn PA-34 and Pitcairn PA-33, given the United States Navy (USN) designation Pitcairn OP-2 and United States Army designation Pitcairn YG-2 respectively were reconnaissance autogyros designed and built in 1936 for evaluation.
The Mississippi State University XV-11A Marvel was an experimental American STOL research aircraft of the 1960s. The MARVEL (Mississippi Aerophysics Research Vehicle with Extended Latitude) was a single-engined pusher monoplane fitted with a boundary layer control system. The first all-composite aircraft, it carried out its initial program of research on behalf of the US Army in the late 1960s, and was rebuilt in the 1980s as a proof-of-concept for a utility aircraft.
The Chrysler VZ-6 was an American VTOL ducted-fan test vehicle designed and built by Chrysler for the United States Army Flying Jeep competition.
The Curtiss CA-1 was an American five-seat biplane amphibian designed by Frank Courtney and built by Curtiss-Wright at St Louis, Missouri.
The Club ULM Rotor Ptenets-2 is a Russian ultralight aircraft, designed and produced by Club ULM Rotor of Kumertau, Bashkortostan. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
The Vortech Shadow is an American autogyro that was designed by Tyler Flight, Inc. and produced by Vortech of Fallston, Maryland. The aircraft is supplied as a kit and also in the form of plans for amateur construction. Vortech also supplies rotor blades for the design.
The ELA Aviation ELA 10 Eclipse is a Spanish, two-seat, enclosed autogyro, designed and built by ELA Aviación of Córdoba, Andalusia. It was introduced at the AERO Friedrichshafen airshow in 2014. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
The Guépard II XJ01 (transl. Cheetah) is a Belgian autogyro that was designed by Joel Tilquin and produced by Guépard II Team of Boncelles, first flown on 28 May 2009 at the Bois-de-la-Pierre fly-in. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.
The Trixy Trixformer is an Austrian roadable aircraft autogyro/electric motorcycle designed and produced by Trixy Aviation Products of Dornbirn, introduced in 2014. The vehicle is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
