Warplanes preserved in the USA: Ohio: Dayton, National Museum of the USAF: LTV XC-142A

Warplanes preserved in the USA: Ohio: Dayton, National Museum of the USAF: LTV XC-142A

(NASA Photo)

Ling-Temco-Vought XC-142A tested at the NASA Langley Research Cente, 17 Jan 1969. A tilt-wing prototype used in vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) studies. After vertical takeoff with the wing pivoted upward, the wing pivoted horizontally and the craft would fly as a conventional airplane.” Langley was extensively involved in wind-tunnel testing of XC-14A models, and in the actual flight evaluations of the actual airplane.

Five tilt-wing XC-142As were built in the 1960s to explore the suitability of Vertical/Short TakeOff and Landing (VSTOL) transports. VSTOL transports permit rapid movement of troops and supplies into and out of unprepared areas. XC-142As were tested extensively by the US Army, US Navy, USAF and NASA. An XC-142A first flew conventionally in September 1964 and performed its first transitional flight (vertical takeoff, changing to forward flight, and landing vertically) in January 1965 . In tests, XC-142As were flown from airspeeds of 35 mph backwards to 400 mph forward. Although the XC-142A did not go into production, it foreshadowed future operational VSTOL transports like the V-22 Osprey. The aircraft on display in the NMUSAF, the only remaining XC-142A, was flown to the museum in 1970. (Wikipedia)