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The Bell X-14 (Bell Type 68) is an experimental VTOL aircraft flown in the United States in the 1950s. The main objective of the project was to demonstrate vectored thrust horizontal and vertical takeoff, hover, transition to forward flight, and vertical landing.
Design and developmentEdit
Template:External media Bell constructed the X-14 as an open-cockpit, all-metal (duralumin) monoplane for the USAF. It was powered by two Armstrong Siddeley Viper turbojet 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.<ref name="USpatent2879014">Template:US patent reference</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Top speed was Template:Convert with a service ceiling of Template:Convert. The X-14 was designed using existing parts from two Beechcraft aircraft: wings, ailerons, and landing gear of a Beech Bonanza and the tailcone and empennage of a Beech T-34 Mentor.<ref name="NasaHistory">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Operational historyEdit
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. In 1959, its Viper engines were replaced with General Electric J85 engines. That year the aircraft was delivered to the NASA Ames Research Center as the X-14A. During the development of the P.1127, Hawker test pilots Bill Bedford and Hugh Merewether visited NASA 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.<ref name="NasaHistory" /> It served as a test aircraft with NASA until 1981.
The X-14 project provided a great deal of data on VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) type aircraft and flight control systems.
In 1971, the X-14A was fitted with new engines (General Electric J85-GE-19) and redesignated the X-14B.<ref name=Jets>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Flying/> An onboard computer and digital fly-by-wire control system were also installed to enable emulation of landing characteristics of other VTOL aircraft.Template:Citation needed
The aircraft was obtained by NASA and repurposed as a Moon-landing simulator.<ref name=VAM/> Neil Armstrong flew the aircraft on numerous occasions, running out of fuel more than once.<ref name=Flying>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The X-14B was used in this test role until it was damaged in a landing accident on 29 May 1981 and never repaired.<ref name=VAM>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the time, there were plans to develop an X-14C with an enclosed cockpit. There were also plans for an X-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.<ref name=Flying/><ref name=VAM/>
Aircraft serial numbersEdit
Although there was only one airframe, it changed serial numbers with every major upgrade.
- X-14 - USAF 56-4022<ref name=Jets/>
- X-14A - NASA 234 (N234NA)<ref name=VAM/>
- X-14B - NASA 704 (N704NA)Template:Citation needed
Surviving aircraftEdit
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The X-14B was rescued from the scrap yard in 1991 and is undergoing renovation as part of the Ropkey Armor and Aviation Museum.<ref>Lowther, Scott. "Bell X-14." up-ship.com. Retrieved: 3 May 2012.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Update inline
Specifications (X-14B)Edit
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
Further readingEdit
External linksEdit
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