In 1965, the U.S. Army issued a proposal request for an aircraft that would have both helicopter and airplane characteristics to replace the CH-47 helicopter and C-7 transport. Bell submitted the tilt-rotor design but the request was dropped in 1968. Bell decided to continue the development for the civil VTOL transport. In 1970, a full size rotor and rotating mechanisms were tested at the NASA wind tunnel. It led to NASA and Army interesting, and jointed to fund the program with two research aircraft prototypes, designated XV-15. Its configuration was a pair of turboshaft engine mounted at the main wing tip. The nacelle could tilt through 90 degree for VTOL and cruise flight. First flight was tested in 1977. Handling was judged as easier than helicopter. In 1980's, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard also jointed the test program. Flight testing continued until 2003. It had accumulated a total of 530 flight hours and was flown by over 185 pilots.

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Experimental VTOL transport aircraft

To research tilt-rotor VTOL configuration

31ft.3in.

30ft.3in.

13ft.6in.

2x Lycoming T53-LTC1K-4K turboshaft

397 mph

2

None

The model kit contents decals able to build the evaluation program from U.S. Army/NASA and U.S.C.G. optionally!

The Bell XV-15A Tiltrotor is suitable to group with the following collection series.

U.S. Tri-services V/STOL experimental aircarft

McDonnell XV-1 (XH-35) Convertiplane

Sikorsky XV-2 (XH-36)

Bell XV-3 (XH-33) Convertiplane

Lockheed XV-4A Hummingbird

Ryan XV-5A Vertifan

Hawker Siddeley XV-6A Kestrel

De Havilland CV-7 Buffalo

McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace AV-8A Harrier

Hughes XV-9A Hot Cycle

Rockwell International OV-10A Bronco

M.S.U. XV-11 Marvel

Rockwell International XFV-12

Bell XV-14A (redesignated to XV-15A)

Bell XV-15A Tiltrotor

McDonnell Douglas/Hawker Siddeley XV-16 Super Harrier

DeHavilland UV-18A Twin Otter

NavAir V-19A (cancelled)

Pilatus UV-20A Chiricahua

U.S. Navy's PV-21 Patrol Airship concept (cancelled)

Bell V-22 Osprey

Skytrader UV-23A

Bell's three generation of tilting rotors V/STOL experiment

Bell XV-3 (XH-33) Convertiplane

Bell XV-15A Tiltrotor

Bell V-22 Osprey

Morden U.S. experimental aircraft