From The Archives: VTOL Fighter Research - 60 Years Ago In Aviation Week
Northrop Corp’s Norair division used this unusual-looking test vehicle to study hot-gas ingestion and jet-induced effects associated with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), with an eye toward future supersonic VTOL fighter aircraft.
Exhaust-gas ingestion by jet-powered VTOL aircraft operating in proximity to the ground introduced the hazard of reduced engine thrust and other adverse effects on engine operation—for every 3F rise in temperature of inlet air, there was an approximate thrust loss of 1%.
The in-house effort to understand these challenges took place at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California, using the agency’s vertical takeoff thrust test stand and engine pod, which is visible in the middle of the test vehicle's fuselage.
The pod contained five General Electric YJ85 jet engines positioned vertically to serve as direct-lift units. The vehicle’s tail featured two other YJ85s serving as lift/cruise engines. (Further details and pictures on p. 54.)
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