Curtiss-Wright X-19
{{Short description|Experimental VTOL tiltrotor quadcopter airplane}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = X-19
|image = File:Curtiss-Wright_X-19_flying.jpg
|caption = X-19 in hovering flight
|type = Experimental VTOL aircraft
|national_origin = United States
|manufacturer = Curtiss-Wright
|designer =
|first_flight = November 1963
|introduction =
|retired =
|status = Canceled
|primary_user =
|more_users =
|produced =
|number_built = 2
|unit cost =
|variants =
}}
The Curtiss-Wright X-19, company designation Model 200, is an American experimental tiltrotor aircraft of the early 1960s. It was noteworthy for being the last aircraft of any kind manufactured by Curtiss-Wright.
Design and development
In March 1960 the Curtiss-Wright Corporation developed the X-100, a prototype for a new, vertical takeoff transport aircraft. The X-100 had a single turboshaft engine, which propelled two tilting-propellers, while at the tail swivelling nozzles used the engine's exhaust gases to give additional control for hovering or slow flight. Although sometimes classified as a tiltrotor aircraft, the design differed from the Bell VTOL XV tiltrotor designs. The X-19 utilized specially designed radial lift propellers, rather than helicopter-like rotors, for vertical takeoff and augmenting the lift provided by the wing structures.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/826319.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317055133/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/826319.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 17, 2017|title=The X-19 V/STOL Technology a Critical Review|last=Fluk|first=Harold (Hal)|access-date=16 March 2017}}
From the X-100 Curtiss-Wright developed the larger X-200, of which the United States Air Force ordered two prototypes designated the X-19A.
The X-19 had fore and aft high-mounted tandem wings. Each wing mounted two {{convert|13|ft|m|abbr=on}} propellers that could be rotated through 90 degrees, allowing the aircraft to take off and land like a helicopter. The propellers were driven by twin Avco Lycoming T55-L-5 turboshaft engines mounted in the fuselage.{{cite book |last1=Apostolo |first1=Giorgio |title=The illustrated encyclopedia of helicopters |date=1984 |publisher=Bonanza Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0517439357 |page=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc00apos/page/63 63] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc00apos/page/63 }}
Operational history
The first flight of the X-19 took place in November 1963 (other sources give 26 June 1964). It was intended that the X-19 would be developed into a VTOL transport aircraft. However the first X-19 was destroyed in a crash on 25 August 1965, with no loss of life, and the program was subsequently cancelled; the second prototype was never completed.{{cite book|last=Jenkins|first=Dennis R.|title=X-Planes Photo Scrapbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uD8cBQAAQBAJ&q=Curtiss-Wright+X-19&pg=PA40|year=2004|publisher=Specialty Press|location=North Branch, MN|isbn=978-158007-076-8 |page=40}} The second X-19 prototype is currently being stored in the restoration facilities at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-061222-016.pdf "Aircraft list."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203111303/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-061222-016.pdf|date=December 3, 2008}} National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved: 17 June 2012.
The power transmission, power to weight requirements, flight mode transition and multi-axis control make VTOL aircraft design far more problematic than conventional fixed wing and even helicopter design. Like most pioneering tilt aircraft, the aerodynamic complexity of coupled pitch, roll, and yaw, and torque, particularly in transition from vertical takeoff to horizontal flight, made design of the X-19 extremely challenging. Ultimately, weaknesses in the power transmission gear boxes led to failure. Owing to design complexity, tiltrotor VTOL aircraft did not enter operational service until the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey introduction in 2007.
Specifications (X-19)
File:Curtiss-Wright X-19 1963.jpg
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1965–66{{cite book |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1965–66 |editor1-last=Taylor |editor1-first=John W.R. |year=1965 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd. |location=London |pages=211–212}}
|prime units?=kts
|crew=2
|capacity=4 pax / {{cvt|5000|lb}} maximum
::{{cvt|3910|lb}} VTOL
|length ft=44
|length in=5
|length note=
|span ft=23
|span in=6
|span note=rear wing
::{{cvt|19.5|ft}} forward wing
|width ft=34
|width in=6
|width note=propeller tip to propeller tip on rear wing
|height ft=17
|height in=0.25
|height note=
|wing area sqft=56.1
|wing area note=forward wing
::{{cvt|98.5|sqft}} rear wing
|swept area sqft=
|swept area note=
|volume ft3=
|volume note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=9750
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=14750
|max takeoff weight note=CTOL
::{{cvt|13600|lb}} VTOL
|fuel capacity={{cvt|4790|lb}} maximum fuel
|more general=
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Lycoming T55-L-7
|eng1 type=turboprop engines
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=
|eng1 shp=2650
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=glass re-inforced plastic Curtiss-Wright radial lift force propellers
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=13
|prop dia in=0
|prop dia note=
::1,203 rpm for take-off; 955 rpm cruising
|rot number=
|rot dia m=
|rot dia ft=
|rot dia in=
|rot area sqft=
|rot area note=
|max speed kts=400
|max speed note=at {{cvt|20000|ft}}
|cruise speed kts=347.6
|cruise speed note=at {{cvt|15000|ft}}
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range nmi=450
|range note=with {{cvt|1000|lb}} payload VTOL
::{{cvt|638.7|nmi|mi km}} with {{cvt|1000|lb}} payload CTOL
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ftmin=3930
|climb rate note=at sea level and {{cvt|13660|lb}} AUW
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
}}
See also
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Curtiss-Wright X-19}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20031006213327/http://www.unrealaircraft.com/gravity/cw_x19a.php Curtiss-Wright X-19 Background]
{{Curtiss-Wright aircraft}}
{{X-planes}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1963
Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear