70 років першому в світі реактивному літаку вертикального злету та посадки X-13 Vertijet

December 10 marked the 70th anniversary of the world's first vertical takeoff and landing jet aircraft, the X-13 Vertijet, created by the American company Ryan Aeronautical. On that day in 1955, its first model took flight.

This program was launched back in 1947 and initially involved research aimed at creating a special aircraft for deployment on submarines. Gradually, it transformed into a project for an experimental vertical takeoff and landing fighter that could be based both on ships and on land.

The concept of the aircraft was based on the ability to ensure vertical takeoff and landing using only one turbojet engine and a takeoff and landing platform on which the fighter was positioned vertically. Instead of the usual landing gear, it was designed to be attached to the platform. However, the first prototype was equipped with a temporary landing gear, on which flights from the airfield began to assess the stability and controllability of the machine.

The X-13 was a small tailless aircraft. It was 7.14 m long, had a delta-shaped wing span of 6.4 m, a maximum takeoff weight of 3,272 kg, and a maximum speed of 560 km/h. The aircraft was equipped with a Rolls-Royce Avon RA.28 engine with a maximum thrust of 4.5 tons.

Only two flying models were built. The first full-cycle flight, when the aircraft took off vertically from the platform, transitioned to horizontal flight, and then returned to the platform, took place on April 11, 1957. Although the Vertijets flew quite successfully, takeoff and landing proved to be very difficult, and only experienced pilots could master them. Despite spectacular demonstration flights, including one near the Pentagon itself, the US military lost interest in the program, and it never progressed beyond the experimental stage.

The X-13 took to the skies for the last time in September 1957. However, the exotic Vertijets were not sent to the scrapyard, but were preserved as monuments to engineering thought. The aircraft with serial number 54-1619 belongs to the Aviation and Space Museum in San Diego, and number 54-1620 belongs to the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton.