Piasecki VZ-8 Airgeep
Piasecki Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1962 · light aircraft
The Piasecki VZ-8 Airgeep was an experimental US Army VTOL platform designed to function as a low-altitude flying substitute for the jeep, using two tandem ducted-fan rotors for lift and propulsion.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Two large shrouded rotors fore and aft of flat platform body |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tandem-ducted-fan VTOL flying jeep platform
- Two large shrouded rotors fore and aft of flat platform body
- Open cockpit with ground-hugging hover capability
Unmistakable flat-platform vehicle with two large circular fan openings fore and aft of the pilot, lacking any fixed wing, conventional tail, or enclosed fuselage.
Specifications
- The Piasecki VZ-8 Airgeep has a length of 7.45 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 4.27 m (14 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 136 km/h (85 mph).
- Typical crew: 1–2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Airgeep II flew from 1962 and demonstrated the ability to fly at very low altitude following terrain contours; while operationally innovative, the concept demanded too much pilot skill and provided insufficient payload advantage over conventional helicopters, and the Army cancelled it.
Variants
An earlier Airgeep I (Model 59K) flew before the Model 59N Airgeep II evaluated in 1962; both used tandem ducted rotors.
Where you'll see it
Evaluated by the US Army but never adopted for operational use; one example is preserved in the United States.
Related aircraft
- Piasecki PA-97 Heli-Stat
- Piasecki X-49
- Cessna 205 / 206 Stationair
- Cessna 206 Stationair
- Fuji KM-2
- Jungster I
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