VTOL planeIn 1954, the first test of a VTOL airplane takes place when a Convair XFY-1 Pogo demonstrated a vertical takeoff and landing. It was known as a "Tail Sitter," but as prototype to test the concept, its glory flared, and faded in a matter of months. The XFY-1 was a prototype of a point-defense interceptor fighter intended for the Navy. The sole virtue was that it didn't need a runway, for the XFY-1 was built to sit upright on its tail, and take off straight up, using enormous contra-rotating propellers on its nose. After takeoff, a Tail Sitter changed from helicopter style vertical flight to airplane by simply pushing over from the vertical ascent to conventional horizontal flight. In landing, the process was reversed to land on its tail. It was too difficult to fly. |
