The Curtiss-Wright VZ-7 (also known as the VZ-7AP) was a
VTOL
A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is one that can takeoff and landing, take off and land vertically without relying on a runway. This classification can include a variety of types of aircraft including helicopters as well as thrust- ...
quadrotor helicopter aircraft designed by the
Curtiss-Wright
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation is an American manufacturer and services provider headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina, with factories and operations in and outside the United States. Created in 1929 from the consolidation (business), consoli ...
company for the US Army. Like the
Chrysler VZ-6 and the
VZ-8 Airgeep it was to be a "flying jeep".
Design and development
The Aerophysics Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Curtiss-Wright, designed an "Aerial Platform" for a
US Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
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.
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.
Operational history
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
The United States Army Aviation Museum is an aviation museum located on Fort Novosel near Daleville, Alabama. It has the largest collection of helicopters held by a museum in the world.Phillips 1992, p. 37.Purner 2004, p. 204. The museum feature ...
aircraft collection at
Fort Novosel
Fort Rucker is a United States Army post located primarily in Dale County, Alabama, United States. It was formerly named in honor of Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Novosel, an Army aviator and Medal of Honor recipient. It was previously name ...
. However, it is not currently on public display due to space restrictions.
Specifications
See also
References
*
External links
*https://web.archive.org/web/20111024155224/http://www.vectorsite.net/avplatfm.html
{{Flying cars
1950s United States military utility aircraft
VZ-7
Experimental helicopters
Quadrotors
1950s United States helicopters
Aircraft first flown in 1958
Single-turbine helicopters