Overhead view of Bell XV-3 Convertiplane. First tilt rotor tested in the 40 x 80 wind tunnel. Transition aerodynamics studied; shown in hover mode.

XV-3 HOVERING ON RAMP. Flight Test of Bell XV-3 Convertiplane. Bell VTOL tilt-rotor aircraft hovering in front of building N-211 at Moffett Field. The XV-3 design combined a helicopter rotor and a wing. A 450 horsepower Pratt & Whitney piston engine drove the two rotors. The XV-3, first flown in 1955 , was the first tilt-rotor to achieve 100% tilting of rotors. The vehicle was underpowered, however, and could not hover out of ground effect. Note the large ventral fin, which was added to imrpove directional stability in cruse (Oct 1962)

XV-3 HOVERING ON RAMP. Flight Test of Bell XV-3 Convertiplane. Bell VTOL tilt-rotor aircraft hovering along side Hangar One at Moffett Field. The XV-3 design combined a helicopter rotor and a wing. A 450 horsepower Pratt & Whitney piston engine drove the two rotors. The XV-3, first flown in 1955 , was the first tilt-rotor to achieve 100% tilting of rotors. The vehicle was underpowered, however, and could not hover out of ground effect. Note the large ventral fin, which was added to imrpove directional stability in cruse (Oct 1962)

XV-3 in Ames Reseach Center 40x80ft wind tunnel with K. Edenborough and B. Ramsey, engineers Published in The History of the XV-15 Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft (from Concept to Flight NASA SP-2000-4517)

XV-3 airplane helicopter hovering VTOLin front of the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA hangar N-211

XV-3 from rear in Ames Reseach Center 40x80ft wind tunnel with K Edenborough and B. Ramsey

XV-15 Tilt Rotor (NASA-703) hovers at Ames Research Center with Navy P-3 Orion overhead

XV-3 in Ames Reseach Center 40x80ft wind tunnel; Rotor dynamic stability tests

XV-3 in Ames Reseach Center 40x80ft wind tunnel; Rotor dynamic stability tests

XV-15 Tilt Rotor (NASA-703) hovers at Ames Research Center with Navy P-3 Orion on taxi way

XV-15 Tilt Rotor (NASA-703) hovers at Ames Research Center with Navy P-3 Orion on flight line in foreground

BELL XV-3 (AF54-148) Convertiplane (experimental tilt rotor) IN FLIGHT Note: Used in publication in Flight Research at Ames; 57 Years of Development and Validation of Aeronautical Technology NASA SP-1998-3300 fig. 121

3/4 front view Ryan XV-5A lift-fan VSTOL airplane. Pictured with Tom Wills.

3/4 rear view Ryan XV-5A lift-fan VSTOL airplane. Pictured with Tom Wills.

3/4 front view of XV-4A Hummingbird VTOL Research Vehicle in Ames 40x80 wind tunnel with Tom Wills in Photo.

NASA Ames Graphics MAJOR NATIONAL FULL-SCALE AERODYNAMICS COMPLEX (NFAC) ROTORCRAFT TESTS SINCE 1977 COMPOSITE. Sikosky S-76 Rotor AC77-0045, Bell 222 fuselage AC77-1388-1, Bell XV-15 Aircraft AC78-0579-3, Kaman CCR Rotor AC78-0731-1, Lokcheed X-Wing Rorotr AC79-0367-4, Boeing VERTOL BMR Rotor AC80-0120-2, Sikordky ABC Helicopter AC80-0467-17, MBB BO-105 Rotor AC83-0309-157