Research Report - Vertibird
Contrary to what some may believe, the Vertibird's design is not entirely unique. Actual helicopters were contructed and flown with this lateral twin-rotor configuration.
When was this? You guessed it.
Helicopters and autogyros were the subject of much study and experimentation in the mid-20th century. Many complex issues are involved, and a number of designs were built and tested during this period (not all of them successful). The famous Futurama exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair illustrated the interest in these vehicles with its display of a metropolis of the future. The tall buildings featured what we today call helipads, made to accommodate rotary wing aircraft that were expected to be popular, not just for corporations or government, but for private individuals as well.
The Vertibird is a lateral twin-rotor (non-synchronized) helicopter design. An actual experimental prototype for this type of aircraft was the Platt-LePage XR-1/XR-1A tested by the US Army in the 1940's. This was followed by the McDonnell XHJD-1 "Whirlaway". Neither of these made it into full production. Nor did the Kellet XR-10 which had synchronized (intermeshing) lateral rotors mounted on fuselage nacelles rather than pylons.
There was also a German craft produced during the war, the Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 "Drache".
The Russians had success with their Bratukhin B-10/B-11 starting flight tests in 1948.
The British tried to build their Firth FH-1 in 1951, but it never flew.
The French built the Sud-Est SE.3000 in 1948 based on the German model.
In the end, the lateral configuration was abandoned for the "tandem" configuration (front and back rotors). This eliminates the need for pylons, is more aerodynamic, and may have other advantages. A good example you may have seen is the CH-47 Chinook.
The lateral design does survive in at least one modern aircraft. I took a look at the OSPREY, since there is a strong resemblance. However, the key to the tilt-wing functionality in the V-22 is the "proprotor", rotor blades that are more like propellers and can function like ones. It's easy to see that the rotor blades on the Vertibird are ordinary helicopter rotors, so it shouldn't be considered a tilt-wing craft. I also think it's reasonable to doubt that the pylons would make decent wings or that they look like they can rotate.
Note 1:
I remembered a toy helicopter set called "Vertibird" that was quite popular during the 70's. (I think it even made an appearance in an episode of "That 70's Show".) While this may be "way-back time" for some of you, most Fallout developers who grew up in the US would certainly have heard of it as kids if not actually played with it. I'm convinced this is indeed the namesake for the vehicle.
Note 2:
If you examine a dragonfly, a flying (and hovering!) insect, you can see how it might have influenced the design with its 6 legs and twin forward bulges (compound eyes).
Visual data
Contrary to what some may believe, the Vertibird's design is not entirely unique. Actual helicopters were contructed and flown with this lateral twin-rotor configuration.
When was this? You guessed it.
Helicopters and autogyros were the subject of much study and experimentation in the mid-20th century. Many complex issues are involved, and a number of designs were built and tested during this period (not all of them successful). The famous Futurama exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair illustrated the interest in these vehicles with its display of a metropolis of the future. The tall buildings featured what we today call helipads, made to accommodate rotary wing aircraft that were expected to be popular, not just for corporations or government, but for private individuals as well.
The Vertibird is a lateral twin-rotor (non-synchronized) helicopter design. An actual experimental prototype for this type of aircraft was the Platt-LePage XR-1/XR-1A tested by the US Army in the 1940's. This was followed by the McDonnell XHJD-1 "Whirlaway". Neither of these made it into full production. Nor did the Kellet XR-10 which had synchronized (intermeshing) lateral rotors mounted on fuselage nacelles rather than pylons.
There was also a German craft produced during the war, the Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 "Drache".
The Russians had success with their Bratukhin B-10/B-11 starting flight tests in 1948.
The British tried to build their Firth FH-1 in 1951, but it never flew.
The French built the Sud-Est SE.3000 in 1948 based on the German model.
In the end, the lateral configuration was abandoned for the "tandem" configuration (front and back rotors). This eliminates the need for pylons, is more aerodynamic, and may have other advantages. A good example you may have seen is the CH-47 Chinook.
The lateral design does survive in at least one modern aircraft. I took a look at the OSPREY, since there is a strong resemblance. However, the key to the tilt-wing functionality in the V-22 is the "proprotor", rotor blades that are more like propellers and can function like ones. It's easy to see that the rotor blades on the Vertibird are ordinary helicopter rotors, so it shouldn't be considered a tilt-wing craft. I also think it's reasonable to doubt that the pylons would make decent wings or that they look like they can rotate.
Note 1:
I remembered a toy helicopter set called "Vertibird" that was quite popular during the 70's. (I think it even made an appearance in an episode of "That 70's Show".) While this may be "way-back time" for some of you, most Fallout developers who grew up in the US would certainly have heard of it as kids if not actually played with it. I'm convinced this is indeed the namesake for the vehicle.
Note 2:
If you examine a dragonfly, a flying (and hovering!) insect, you can see how it might have influenced the design with its 6 legs and twin forward bulges (compound eyes).
Visual data
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