Description
Book SynopsisThis book describes in superb pictures and text the fascinating genre of tilt rotor airplanes. Since the first helicopters flew, attempts have been made to create a link between the mobility of the rotorcraft and the speed of the winged airplane. At first these attempts failed simply because of constructive difficulties, since the technology had not advanced far enough. The progressive development, though, created in the past decades new possibilities, and thus led to the V-22 Osprey, which has meanwhile been produced in series and is used by the U.S. forces. A civilian model, the Bell/Agusta BA 209, will soon be introduced commercially.
Trade Review'The first thing to say about this book is that it isn't just about tilt rotors past and present but also covers the equally long history of the tilt-wing aircraft, of which there were many and varied but which in the end has not yet found favour. The main thrust of this book however covers the series of military projects funded in the United States after 1945, commencing with the Transcendendental 1-G which is recognised as the first successful tiltrotor and continuing with the Bell XV-3 and a number of much larger and unsung tiltwing and tiltrotor aircraft that eventually led to the U.S. military selecting the now in-service Bell Boeing V-22. The final pages give a glimpse into the future at the time of writing, but already perhaps being overtaken by events. If you are interested in tiltwing and tiltrotor history, this is a fascinating reference that you will undoubtedly want to delve into time and time agian.' - Helicopter International
