National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Vertical Flight
December 15, 2003 – Permanent
Able to operate freely from nearly any place on earth, helicopters come closer than any other aircraft to achieving the birdlike freedom humanity has always envied. However, the same technology that makes this possible also prevents the helicopter from achieving the speeds and payload capacity of airplanes performing similar functions.
Follow the evolution of vertical flight from World War II, when helicopters were used for medical evacuation and antisubmarine warfare, through the Korean and Vietnam wars,when they emerged as an invaluable, and then essential, military tool.
Highlights include:
- Bell XV-15 TRRA (Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft), Ship 2
- Bell 47B
- Autogiro Company of America AC-35
Bell XV-15 TRRA (Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft), Ship 2
