Collins Aerodyne
Role Experimental VTOL Aircraft
Manufacturer Collins Radio Company
Designer Alexander Lippisch
Number built 1

The Collins Aerodyne was an experimental VTOL-Aircraft, which was developed by the Collins Radio Company in the 1950s. Head engineer was Alexander Lippisch.[1]

VTOL principle

The Collins Aerodyne had a barrel-like fuselage with a ducted fan, similar to the Stipa-Caproni aircraft from the 1932, the "Flying Barrel". Different from the Stipa-Caproni, the Collins Aerodyne had no wings, but a vectored thrust lift system. The air exiting the fuselage's rear was supposed to be deflected downwards by movable outlet vanes, thus providing lift.[2]

Propulsion

The propellers inside the barrel-like fuselage were powered by two Lycoming 0435 engines.[1]

Operation

Only one prototype for wind tunnel testing was ever completed. The VTOL-Principle was not promising enough to justify further development. The prototype was not tested outside the wind tunnel.[2] Later, Lippisch developed a similar prototype in Germany, the Dornier Aerodyne.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 United States Federal Aviation Agency (1961). A Technical Summary and Compilation of Characteristics and Specifications on Steep-Gradient Aircraft. Rutgers University: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 121.
  2. 1 2 Markman, Steve (2000). Straight up : a history of vertical flight. William G. Holder. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub. p. 72. ISBN 0-7643-1204-9. OCLC 46790785.
  3. ↑ says, Dan (2015-05-28). "Bizarre Aircraft: the Lippisch Aerodyne". Disciples of Flight. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
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