vertical takeoff and landing aircraft

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vertical takeoff and landing aircraft

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (VTOL), craft capable of rising and descending vertically from and to the ground, thus requiring no runway. While a balloon or an airship has obvious VTOL capability, both are very inefficient at moving parallel to the earth's surface. The autogiro and the helicopter offer some improvement in this respect, but still have very limited performance. A large number of VTOL designs have been produced and tried. The pogo-stick, or tail-sitting, type was similar in appearance to a conventional airplane except for a special tail on which it took off and landed. This type was abandoned, partly because of the difficulty in maintaining fine control when its fuselage was positioned vertically, e.g., during a landing. Convertiplanes are VTOL craft that can fly horizontally with the same effectiveness as a conventional airplane. Some convertiplanes are conventional-looking aircraft that can tilt their rotors, or oversize propellors, so that the rotors' axes are vertical during takeoff and landing and are horizontal during forward flight. The best-known such tilt-rotor aircraft is the V-22 Osprey, which first flew in 1989. The Harrier is a jet fighter convertiplane that uses vanes to direct the thrust of its engine upward or forward and is capable of flight at approximately the speed of sound; it proved its ability to control a battlefield despite the absence of airports and runways during the 1982 Falklands conflict.

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vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft

The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military | 2001 | © The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft VTOL any aircraft capable of taking off and landing either horizontally, using a short runway, or vertically.

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vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft

The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military | 2001 | © The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft V/STOL an aircraft capable of executing a vertical takeoff and landing, a short takeoff and landing, or any combination of these modes of operation.

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"vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved December 19, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-vrtclshrttkffndlndngrcrf1.html

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Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

Icelandic Inventor Develops Vertical Takeoff, Landing Aircraft
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 9/19/2007; 431 words ; ...Iceland, has developed a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. According to the U.S...vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, which includes pivotal wing...pure jet mode, wherein the aircraft is configured such that it...
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California Inventor Develops Vertical TakeOff, Landing Aircraft
News Wire article from: US Fed News Service, Including US State News; 10/5/2007; 483 words ; ...has developed a compound aircraft. According to the U.S...Trademark Office: "A compound vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. In a specific embodiment, the VTOL aircraft includes a gas-powered tip...
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New MDC R&D center will focus on ASTOVL, AV-8B II Plus. (McDonnell Douglas Corp. research, development on Advanced Short Takeoff Vertical Landing aircraft, upgrade of AV-8B II Plus aircraft)
Newspaper article from: Defense Daily; 1/11/1994; 700+ words ; ...efforts on current and future vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft and refinement of manufacturing...center, part of MDC's New Aircraft and Missiles Products Div...responsibility for two major aircraft projects. MDC staff there...
Dismay over cost sharing as ASTOVL proposals arrive. (defense contractors submit bids for advanced short-takeoff vertical landing aircraft project, express concern over co-financing)
Newspaper article from: Defense Daily; 12/8/1992; 700+ words ; ...Ied advanced, short-takeoff, vertical-landing (ASTOVL) aircraft project, with some industry...teamed with General Electric Aircraft Engines, submitted an ASTOVL...and Marine Corp. An ASTOVL aircraft may eventually replace Marine...
JSF Production To Stay The Same; STOVL Stays Second In Line.(Joint Strike Fighter)(short takeoff vertical landing)(aircraft)
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ARPA launches ASTOVL/CTOL fighter demonstration. (Advanced Research Projects Agency seeks proposals for Advanced Takeoff Vertical Landing/ Conventional Takeoff Landing aircraft) (Defense Procurements )
Newspaper article from: Defense Daily; 12/1/1993; 671 words ; ...technology validation of a direct lift Advanced Takeoff Vertical Landing/Conventional Takeoff Landing (ASTO VL/CTOL) common affordable lightweight...enter into an agreement with only a prime aircraft company, proposals shall include an engine...
Manufacturer of Skycar Signs Financial Advisory Agreement With Dallas Based Broker/Dealer; Moller International Inc., Manufacturer of a Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft, Hires RichMark Capital to Position Company for Future Growth And Public Listing.
PR Newswire; 8/16/2002; 700+ words ; ...Moller International (http://www.moller.com/ ) is the developer of the Skycar, a four-person Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft currently undergoing initial flight-testing. The Company is an innovative aeronautical research and...
TAC air reductions would delay JAST or kill ASTOVL, DOD warns. (Congress' reduced tactical aircraft financing might impact Joint Advanced Strike Technology development and Advanced Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing aircraft program)
Newspaper article from: Defense Daily; 9/13/1994; 700+ words ; ...Navy Advanced Short Takeoff/ Vertical Landing (ASTOVL) contracts...1 million various aircraft technology efforts...affordable strike aircraft. ARPA and the JAST...for tactical combat aircraft. "DoD's requested...
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