The first examples of the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor will be operational with the US Navy and US Marine Corps by 2004, and the aircraft is actively being marketed overseas. A response to this effort has come from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, which are currently evaluating the type with a view to replacing their Sea Kings and Pumas. Bell-Boeing is certain that the Osprey will be able to fulfil all the roles intended for this innovative aircraft.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey - СШАUSA - 1989

The Fairey Jet Gyrodyne of 1949-56 was simply the second prototype Gyrodyne with pressure jet units at its blade tips and a pair of pusher propellers at the tips of its stub wings.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Gyrodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

The Rotodyne at the 1959 SBAC Display at Farnborough, with rear doors open and tops of fins folded down to clear the rotor at low rotational speeds.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Although the Rotodyne was able to give lively performances at Farnborough, when lightly loaded, its Elands were insufficiently powerful.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

This study of the rotor head being prepared for one of many tests at Boscombe Down reveals some of its structural and mechanical details.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

On June 3, 1958, with its name emblazoned on its fuselage and rotor pylon, XE521 was demonstrated to the press at White Waltham.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

An unusually lively study of the Rotodyne gives some impression of its bulkiness and the large rotor diameter.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Final assembly of the airframe well under way at White Waltham in May 1957, with the powerplant still to be installed.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

One of the four rotor-tip pressure jet units largely responsible for one of the Rotodyne’s greatest bugbears: noise.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

A bridge-lifting demonstration in mid-1959. Note the fin attached to the left end of the bridge to stabilise it in flight.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

The Rotodyne spinning rig at Boscombe Down in its initial form in the mid-1950s, with one Eland engine and a two-bladed rotor.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

A rotor blade under construction, showing the ducts for the air to the pressure jets.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

A test flight during the vibration programme, with the empennage removed and a bracing strut from pylon to tail, to measure stiffness changes.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

The Rotodyne over Surrey Docks, London, in the autumn of 1959; had it gone into service, this might have been a common sight.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

The first flight of sole prototype XE521 was made on November 6, 1957, in helicopter mode and with a temporary fixed undercarriage, no folding upper fins, and with the cowling panels off. New Zealander Sqn Ldr Ron Gellatly was the pilot.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

The Rotodyne’s 59ft fuselage and 47ft wing on the road from Fairey’s factory at Hayes, Middlesex, to White Waltham Aerodrome, Berkshire, in April 1957 for final assembly.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Squadron Leader Ron Gellatly, a 36-year-old Dunedin-born New Zealander and Fairey’s senior rotary-wing test pilot, in the Rotodyne cockpit late in 1957.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

A view from the rear, with the clamshell doors wide open to admit cargo or vehicles.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

The Rotodyne’s cockpit/flightdeck, with its generous glazing allowing the pilot and copilot a good view of the outside world.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Two of the leading lights behind the Rotodyne: left, Dr G.S. Hislop, Fairey Helicopters’ chief designer, and, right, Fairey Aviation chief engineer R.L. Lickley.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Optimism unbounded and unfounded; models of production Rotodynes in the colours of BEA and British United Airways at the 1961 Farnborough Show.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

This advertisement, published in The Aeroplane of January 9, 1953, depicts an early conception of the Rotodyne on the London-Paris run.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

An artist’s impression of the Rolls-Royce Tyne-engined production version of the Rotodyne.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Fairey Rotodyne

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957

Fairey Aviation released this Rotodyne drawing in November 1958.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairey Rotodyne - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1957