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| X-14 | |
|---|---|
 Bell Type 68 VTOL | |
| General information | |
| Type | ExperimentalVTOL |
| Manufacturer | Bell Aircraft |
| Status | Private Collection |
| Primary users | NASA |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1 |
| First flight | 19 February 1957; 68 years ago (1957-02-19) |
| Retired | 29 May 1981; 44 years ago (1981-05-29) |
TheBell X-14 (Bell Type 68) is an experimentalVTOL aircraft flown in theUnited States in the 1950s. The main objective of the project was to demonstratevectored thrust horizontal and vertical takeoff,hover, transition to forward flight, and vertical landing.
| External image | |
|---|---|
| Bell X-14thrust vectoring vanes | |
 View of the X-14's thrust vectoring vanes used to transition from vertical to horizontal flight from theRopkey Armor and Aviation Museum. |
Bell constructed the X-14 as an open-cockpit, all-metal (duralumin)monoplane for theUSAF. It was powered by twoArmstrong Siddeley Viperturbojet engines equipped with thrust deflectors sited at the aircraft's centre of gravity. The engines are fixed in position; transition from vertical to horizontal flight is achieved with a system of movable vanes that control the direction of engine thrust.[1][2] Top speed was 180 miles per hour (290 km/h) with a service ceiling of 20,000 feet (6,100 m). The X-14 was designed using existing parts from twoBeechcraft aircraft: wings, ailerons, and landing gear from aBeech Bonanza and the tail group from aBeech T-34 Mentor.[3]
The X-14 first flew on 19 February 1957 as a vertical takeoff, hover, then vertical landing. The first transition from hover to horizontal flight occurred on 24 May 1958. In1959, its Viper engines were replaced withGeneral Electric J85 engines. That year the aircraft was delivered to theNASA Ames Research Center as theX-14A. During the development of theP.1127, Hawker test pilotsBill Bedford andHugh Merewether visitedNASA Ames to fly the X-14 and acquaint themselves with jet V/STOL aircraft handling prior to the first flights of the prototype P.1127.[3] It served as a test aircraft withNASA until1981.
The X14 project provided a great deal of data on VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft and flight control systems, served as a vital training platform for the Apollo space program, and directly contributed to the development of the Hawker Harrier and later the Lockheed Martin F-35B.
In1971, the X-14A was fitted with new engines (General Electric J85-GE-19) and redesigned theX-14B.[4][5] An onboard computer and digitalfly-by-wire control system were also installed to enable emulation of landing characteristics of other VTOL aircraft.[citation needed]
The aircraft was used by NASA as a Moon-landing simulator.[6]Neil Armstrong flew the aircraft on numerous occasions. Armstrong himself described learning to hover in the X14 as being like “perching on a bubble of hot air.”[5]
The X-14B was used in this test role until it was damaged in a hard landing on 29 May 1981 and never repaired.[6] At the time, there were plans to develop anX-14C with an enclosed cockpit. There were also plans for anX-14T trainer. None of these further versions got beyond the planning stage.
During all of its years of service, the X-14 was flown by numerous pilots with no serious incidents or injuries.[5][6]
Although there was only one airframe and serial number, it changed N numbers from 234 to 704 when the airframe was upgraded under NASA.
.JPG)
The X-14B was rescued from the scrap yard in 1991 and is undergoing renovation as part of theRopkey Armor and Aviation Museum.[7][8][needs update]
Data from Bell aircraft since 1935[9]
General characteristics
Performance
Avionics
Auto-stabilisation and computer-controlled engine controls.
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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