Bell XV-15
Bell Helicopter Textron · United States · first flew 1977 · transport aircraft
The Bell XV-15 is an American experimental tiltrotor VTOL aircraft, the first to demonstrate the high-speed performance of the concept.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.83 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Engines in wingtip pods that rotate between horizontal and vertical
- Large 25 ft rotors at each wingtip
- Tail fins (plural) on the tail
Look for an aircraft with a large rotor in a pod on each wingtip, which tilt upright for hover. It is classed as a high-wing aircraft.
Specifications
- The Bell XV-15 has a length of 12.83 m (42 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.42 m (57 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 615 km/h (382 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
NASA chose the Bell Model 301 design in 1973. The first of two XV-15s, N702NA, first flew on 3 May 1977.
Variants
Two were built. The XV-15 led to the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey and the AW609. The span figure is the width across the rotors.
Where you'll see it
Used for NASA research and demonstrated at the 1981 Paris Air Show. It holds an FAI speed record of 456 km/h as a Rotodyne and was retired in 2003.
Related aircraft
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