x planes

“Charles Pritchard, designer builder and pilot, makes first test of his wingless Rocket Air Ship on mile lone runway at Emporia, Virginia, airport, 8A-1030A today, (Friday). Plane has short baffles or fins in place of wings, 90 hp engine, conventional propeller and tail assembly, tricycle landing gear, is 21 feet long 98 inches wide weighs 800 lbs. Pritchard made eight runs along runway, but didn’t; get off the ground. Says he’ll make modifications and try again.” (circa 1955)

November 09, 2009, 9:04pm

Cliff Kysor’s torpedo plane, circa 1950
(more here)

November 09, 2009, 7:21pm

nobody died! friday #37: Grumman F9F Panther sliced in two on the USS Midway, June 23rd 1951

(video here)

November 06, 2009, 11:03pm

nobody died! friday #36: Fairchild C-82 Packet crash testing, NACA Lewis Research Center, 1958

November 06, 2009, 8:39pm

The Fairey Rotodyne prototype, circa 1959

November 05, 2009, 10:47pm

Fairey Jet Gyrodyne, circa 1957

November 05, 2009, 9:34pm

“Lynn Biddison, Helijumper, 1953”

November 05, 2009, 12:12am

Cessna CH-1 testbed, 1952

November 04, 2009, 6:56pm

reblog: melisaki

Cessna CH-1

November 03, 2009, 8:55pm

sunday fantasy #158: Karl Hans (Joachim) Janke

(via Hilary Rakestraw’s Tumblr)

October 11, 2009, 9:47pm

“TOMORROW’S HELICOPTER: This artist’s conception of the Howard Hughes 205 twin-turbine-powered helicopter represents a stage in rotor-craft design which may be much nearer than we think. It would have a seating capacity for 70 passengers, a range of 200 miles and would cruise at over 100 m.p.h. A “skeleton” prototype began its trials last year. A revolving lift is installed aft, for baggage stowage.. (1951)”
(via and via)

October 10, 2009, 6:05pm

“Howard Hughes (second from left) chats with aides as his XH-17, the world’s largest helicopter, made it’s first test flight. The XH-17 is an experimental heavy-lift machine with a 125-foot rotor blade span”

Hughes died on April 5th, 1976. This photo, taken on October 23rd 1952 was one of his last public appearances.

October 09, 2009, 8:49pm

on 11th August 1954 - just a week after it first flew - the English Electric P.1A became the first British aircraft to exceed Mach 1 in level flight

(the second prototype, the P.1B, became the first British aircraft to exceed Mach 2 on 25th November 1958)

October 02, 2009, 10:49pm

the Short S.B.5 research aircraft, with T-tail configuration, circa 1954

October 02, 2009, 4:33pm

the Short S.B.5 research aircraft, circa 1960. Built to (independently) test the proposed aerodynamic configuration of a supersonic fighter being built by the English Electric Company. The tailplane and wing sweepback were tested in various configurations - the final sweep setting of 69° was greater than anything else in the world at the time.

October 02, 2009, 3:22pm