N.Morgan on Nostr: Do the math. This was 70 years ago... In the mid-1950s, Hiller Aircraft constructed a ...
Do the math. This was 70 years ago...
In the mid-1950s, Hiller Aircraft constructed a series of flying platforms for an Army-Navy program. The pilot simply leaned in the desired direction and the platform would follow. Hiller Aircraft incorporated twin counter-rotating propellers in a round housing (ducted fan). Sixty percent of the platform’s lift was generated by thrust from the counter-rotating propellers and 40% was generated by air moving over the ducted fan's leading edge (Bernoulli principle).
Hiller developed several prototypes under this initiative, most notably the Hiller VZ-1 Pawnee. These platforms were designed to be simple, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that could be easily operated by personnel with minimal training. The idea was to create a versatile vehicle for reconnaissance, observation, and potentially other roles.
The VZ-1 utilized ducted fans for lift and control, allowing the operator to steer by shifting their weight.
While innovative, the flying platforms had limitations in terms of speed, altitude, and payload capacity.
https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1748393242656772096/xlarge/
In the mid-1950s, Hiller Aircraft constructed a series of flying platforms for an Army-Navy program. The pilot simply leaned in the desired direction and the platform would follow. Hiller Aircraft incorporated twin counter-rotating propellers in a round housing (ducted fan). Sixty percent of the platform’s lift was generated by thrust from the counter-rotating propellers and 40% was generated by air moving over the ducted fan's leading edge (Bernoulli principle).
Hiller developed several prototypes under this initiative, most notably the Hiller VZ-1 Pawnee. These platforms were designed to be simple, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that could be easily operated by personnel with minimal training. The idea was to create a versatile vehicle for reconnaissance, observation, and potentially other roles.
The VZ-1 utilized ducted fans for lift and control, allowing the operator to steer by shifting their weight.
While innovative, the flying platforms had limitations in terms of speed, altitude, and payload capacity.
https://cdn.minds.com/fs/v1/thumbnail/1748393242656772096/xlarge/