...The best story was the test pilot proving it was capable of an OGE hover at 10,000'. As you can see from the pictures the pilot sees very little of machine while flying. He said hanging motionless at 10,000 with (essentially) noting around you was eerie to say the least. Sounds like fun to me.
Here are some pictures of one developed in the 1950's by Hiller for the US Navy. The idea was it could be parachute dropped to a downed pilot who would then unfold it and fly himself out.
A description can be found at the Hiller Museum site
I met an engineer who worked on this project. The best story was the test pilot proving it was capable of an OGE hover at 10,000'. As you can see from the pictures the pilot sees very little of machine while flying. He said hanging motionless at 10,000 with (essentially) noting around you was eerie to say the least. Sounds like fun to me.
Joe
Here are some pictures of one developed in the 1950's by Hiller for the US Navy. The idea was it could be parachute dropped to a downed pilot who would then unfold it and fly himself out.
A description can be found at the Hiller Museum site
I met an engineer who worked on this project. The best story was the test pilot proving it was capable of an OGE hover at 10,000'. As you can see from the pictures the pilot sees very little of machine while flying. He said hanging motionless at 10,000 with (essentially) noting around you was eerie to say the least. Sounds like fun to me.
Joe
Here are some pictures of one developed in the 1950's by Hiller for the US Navy. The idea was it could be parachute dropped to a downed pilot who would then unfold it and fly himself out.
A description can be found at the Hiller Museum site
I met an engineer who worked on this project. The best story was the test pilot proving it was capable of an OGE hover at 10,000'. As you can see from the pictures the pilot sees very little of machine while flying. He said hanging motionless at 10,000 with (essentially) noting around you was eerie to say the least. Sounds like fun to me.
Joe
Computer graphics is the best thing to come down the pike for creating ways to seperate people from thier investment money since ... well, pretty much ever.
It's done very little for aviation design.
I note that the hangar in that second photo, which I presume is at NASA Ames -- Moffett Field (KNUQ), says Visiting Aircraft Welcome! Looking on the Airnav site, it says prior permission required from NASA to land there. Anyone know if it's routinely/ever granted? (Not that I see going there anytime soon, just curious.)Here are some pictures of one developed in the 1950's by Hiller for the US Navy. The idea was it could be parachute dropped to a downed pilot who would then unfold it and fly himself out.
A description can be found at the Hiller Museum site
I met an engineer who worked on this project. The best story was the test pilot proving it was capable of an OGE hover at 10,000'. As you can see from the pictures the pilot sees very little of machine while flying. He said hanging motionless at 10,000 with (essentially) noting around you was eerie to say the least. Sounds like fun to me.
Joe
The 1950's version was huge rooms full of draftsmen.
Those things flew.
The P-51 went from concept to production in 9 months with the only technology being rooms full of draftsmen and engineers with slide rules.
I note that the hangar in that second photo, which I presume is at NASA Ames -- Moffett Field (KNUQ), says Visiting Aircraft Welcome! Looking on the Airnav site, it says prior permission required from NASA to land there. Anyone know if it's routinely/ever granted? (Not that I see going there anytime soon, just curious.)