Curtiss-Wright VZ-7

VZ-7
Role	VTOL utility aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Curtiss-Wright
First flight	1958 ?
Retired	1960
Status	Cancelled
Primary user	USAF
Number built	2

The Curtiss-Wright VZ-7 was a VTOL aircraft designed by the Curtiss-Wright 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

Two prototypes 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 propellers were attached, unshrouded (the aircraft did originally have shrouds, but these were later removed). There were 4 propellers in total. The VZ-7 was controlled by changing the thrust of each propeller. The flying platform was maneuvrable and easy to fly.

The aircraft performed well during tests, but was not able to meet the Army's standards, therefore it was retired and returned to the manufacturer in 1960.

One VZ-7 is part of the United States Army Aviation Museum aircraft collection at Fort Rucker. However, it's not on public display due to space restrictions.^[1][2]

Specifications

Data from^{[citation needed]}

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Length: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
• Width: 16 ft 0 in (4.87 m)
• Height: 9 ft 3 in (2.83 m)
• Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Artouste IIB turboshaft, 430 hp (320 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 32 mph (51 km/h)
• Service ceiling: 200 ft (60 m)

See also

• Lunar Landing Research Vehicle
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar
• VZ-8 Airgeep
• Chrysler VZ-6
  

References

1. ^ Rotary Wing Collection of the US Army Aviation Museum
2. ^ Forum discussion with many pictures of aircrafts in storage (incl. the VZ-7)

External links

• http://www.vectorsite.net/avplatfm.html