Gliding parachute test in 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel, mounted on main strut flying horizontally.

Front view of the Avrocar on variable height struts in 40x 80 wind tunnel with overhead doors open.

Ames aerodynamicists tested a wide variety of VTOL aircraft and helicopters during the 1960's. Here the Hiller rotorcycle YROE-1, made by Hiller Helicopter in nearby PaloAlto, California, hovers in front of the Ames Hangar. (4020, 4021, 4024) Published in NASA SP Flight Research at Ames: 57 Years of Development and Validation of Aeronautical Technology and Ames 60yr History Atmosphere of Freedom.

X-14A NASA 234 hovering over ramp at the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

Ryan VZ-3RY over Ames in slow-speed flight. Smooth airflow over entire wing is indicated by tufts when wing had been modified to incorporate leading-edge slats. Tests showed that it could be flown at speeds as low as 6 knots when out of ground effect (which increases lift). April 1963 published in NASA SP-2002-4525 Memoirs of a Flight test Engineer (Seth Anderson)

Pilot Bob Innis in cockpit of CV-990

VZ-3RY (AF 56-6941, NASA 235, NASA 705) Vertiplane - Level flight 25 knots, flaps deflection 60 degrees. Flight investigation o f the flying qualities of a deflected slipstream VTOL aircraft. Note: Used in publication in Flight Research at Ames; 57 Years of Development and Validation of Aeronautical Technology NASA SP-1998-3300 fig. 115

OV-10A instrument panel similar to 407-46-1 but showing pitch and yaw indicators. YOV-10A STOL Aircraft rotating cylinder flap.

Apollo navigation simulator, used to test concepts for midcourse correction on the voyage to and from the Moon.

SH-3G (NASA-735) Helicopter on roll out from Ames ramp

Aerial Survey of Ames Research Center (Used in NASA/AMES publication 'Adventures in Research' A history of Ames Research Center 1940 - 1965 by Edwin P. Hartman - SP-4302)

R4D-6 (Bu. No. 99827 NACA 18, NASA 701). TAKE-OFF MONITOR TEST, EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE. Gunsight Tracking and Guidance and Control Displays. Note: Used in publication in Flight Research at Ames; 57 Years of Development and Validation of Aeronautical Technology NASA SP-1998-3300 fig 76

X-14A over ramp at Ames Research Center

Lockheed NC-130B aircraft in flight over Santa Clara Valley, CA

Rear view of the Avrocar with tail, mounted on variable height struts. Overhead doors of the wind tunnel test section open.

Height Control Simulator (HICONTA) with Pilot Gordon Hardy in cab

Pilots in cockpit of CV-990

DURING APPROACH. OGEE Wing Planform on modified F5D-1 SkylancerAirplane Flight Tests. 'Flow Visualization Photographs'. In landing approach trials at Moffett Field, vapor trails are generated by low pressure in votex flow near wing leading edge on upper wing surface. Studies were undertaken in efforts to determine if there were adverse effects of vortex flow on the dynamic stability of the aircraft.

Ames 5 degrees-of-freedom motion simulator: This simulator incorporated a centrifuge of 30ft radius. The simulatored cockpit, located intn a hooded cab at the end of the centrifuge arm, was driven by motors, as required by the simulation, about each of its three axes (itch, roll, and yaw). The cab was also driven through a limited range of motion along the vertical axis and of course was driven by the centrifuge arm along a curved path of fixed radius in the horizontal plane. Thus the motions that could be simulated i the cab were three angular motions, one translational motion, and a curvilinear combination of the remaining two translational motions. The curvilinear motions, and associated accelerations, were, of course, fairly representative of airplane flight. The simulator was placed in operation early in 1961. ref: Adventures in Research (pg 341/341) NASA SP-4302

MANNED SPACECRAFT SIMULATION BRANCH PERSONNEL - Top row, L-R: Henry C. Lessing, Dallas G. Denery, Richard Acken, Robert E. Coate. Secon row, L-R: Frederick W. Boltz, Kenneth C. White, Gordon H. Hardy, Donald W. Smith. Third row, L-R: Rodney C. Wingrove, Bedford A. Lampkin, Armando E. Lopez, DeLamar W. Watson. Bottom row, L-R: Richard L. Kurkowski, Michele H. Hilliard, Brent Y. Creer, Grace M. Webster, Frederick G. Edwards. Note: Used in publication in Flight Research at Ames; 57 Years of Development and Validation of Aeronautical Technology NASA SP-1998-3300 fig 90

Height-Control Test Apparatus (HICONTA) Simulator mounted to the exterior of the 40x80ft W.T. Building N-221B and provided extensive vertical motion simulating airplanes, helicopter and V/STOL aircraft

Aerial Survey of Ames Research Center - Flight Simulation Complex' Flight simulators create an authentic aircraft environment by generating the appropriate physical cues that provide the sensations of flight.

Pilot Fred Drinkwater in cockpit of CV-990

Douglas F5D Skylancer fighter modified with ogee wing planform designed for Mach 2 flight. Shown is the effect of vortex flow on wing tuft alignment in low-speed, high angle-of-attack flight.

Ames aerodynamicists tested a wide variety of VTOL aircraft and helicopters during the 1960's Here the Hiller rotorcycle YROE-1, made by Hiller Helicopter in nearby Palo Alto, California, hovers in front of the Ames Hangar. The Rotorcycle was a small, 500pound, single-place helicopter. Tests indicated that the vehicle was unsafe because of low yaw-control capability to the right; the design also had oor crashworthiness.

Lockheed NC-130B STOL turboprop-powered aircraft with ailerons drooped 30 degrees. Note trailing-edge flaps deflected 90 degrees for increased lift. Two T-56 turboshaft engines, which drove wing-mounted load compressors for boundary-layer control, are mounted on outboard wing pods. Landing approach speed was reduced 30 knots with boundary-layer control

Pilot in cockpit of CV-990

Aerial Survey of Ames Research Center centered on the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel Complex and High Speed Aerodynamic Facilities (used in Bicentennial)

Apollo interium midcourse flight simulator Brent Creer, Chief of the Ames manned spacecraft simulation branch, developed the Apollo mid-course navigation and guidance simulator.

ON LANDING. OGEE Wing Plan Form on F5D-1 Airplane FLight Tests. 'Flow Visualization Photographs'.

6 degree V/STOL Control Systems Research All Axes, Simulator (simulator pilot: Richard K Greif) at the Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA Note: Used in publication in Flight Research at Ames; 57 Years of Development and Validation of Aeronautical Technology NASA SP-1998-3300 fig. 113