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Hiller X-18
| X-18 | |
|---|---|
| Ground testing the X-18 tiltwing | |
| Type | Experimental prototype |
| Manufacturer | Hiller Aircraft Corporation |
| Designed by | Stanley Hiller Jr |
| Maiden flight | 24 November Template:Avyear |
| Status | Aircraft scrapped Template:Avyear |
| Number built | One |
The X-18 was an experimental cargo transport aircraft designed to be the first testbed for tiltwing and STOVL (short take off and vertical landing) technology.
Development
Design work started in 1955 by Stanley Hiller Jr and Hiller Aircraft Corporation received a manufacturing contract and funding from the U.S. Air Force to build the only X-18 ever produced.
To speed up construction and conserve money the plane was constructed from scavenged parts including a Chase C-122 Avitruc fuselage and the turboprops came from the Lockheed XFV-1 and Convair XFY-1 Pogo experimental airplanes program. The tri-bladed contra-rotating propellers were a giant 16 ft (4.8 m) across. The Westinghouse turbojet engine had its exhaust diverted upwards and downwards at the tail to give the plane pitch control at low speeds.
Service history
The first test flight was on November 24, 1959, ultimately recording 20 flights out of Edwards AFB. A number of problems plagued the X-18 including being susceptible to wind gusts when the wing rotated, acting like a sail. In addition the turboprop engines were not cross-linked, so the failure of one engine meant the airplane would crash.
On the 20th and final flight in July 1961, the X-18 had a propeller pitch control problem when attempting to hover at 10,000 ft and went into a spin. The crew regained control and landed, but the X-18 never flew again. However ground testing of the tiltwing concepts continued. Eventually a test stand that the plane was mounted on failed and the plane was severely damaged in the fall. The program was finally cancelled on January 18, 1964 and the X-18 was cut up for scrap.
Specifications (X-18)
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.General characteristics
- Crew: 2-3
- Length: 63 ft 0 in (19.2 m)
- Wingspan: 48 ft 0 in (14.6 m)
- Height: 24 ft 7 in (7.5 m)
- Empty weight: 26,786 lb (12,150 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 33,000 lb (14,850 kg)
- Powerplant:
- 1× Westinghouse J34 turbojet engine for pitch control, 3,400 lbf (15.2 kN)
- 2× Allison T40-A-14 turboprop engines, 5,500 hp (4,100 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 253 mph (407 km/h)
- Service ceiling: 35,300 ft (10,800 m)
See also
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
Related lists
See also
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
External links
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
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| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hiller X-18". |
