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Doak VZ-4
Doak VZ-4 in hovering flight
Role VTOL research convertiplane
Manufacturer Doak Aircraft Company
First flight 25 February 1958[1]
Status preserved at Fort Eustis VA
Primary user United States Army
Number built 1

The Doak VZ-4 (or Doak Model 16) was an American prototype VTOL aircraft built in the 1950s for service in the United States Army.

Development[]

The aircraft was originally powered by an 840 shp (630 kW) Lycoming YT53 turboprop engine. It was replaced with a 1,000 shp (750 kW) Lycoming T53-L-1 turbine.[2] The turbine engine is mounted in the fuselage driving two wing-tip mounted tilting ducted fan propellers. Only one aircraft was produced. Given serial number 56-6942, it is on display at the U.S. Army Transportation Museum located at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

Operators[]

USA

Specifications[]

Doak VZ-4 Fort Eustis VA 22.04

The Doak VZ-4 on display at Fort Eustis, Virginia, in April 2004

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
  • Wingspan: 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)
  • Wing area: 96 ft2 (8.92 m2)
  • Empty weight: 2,300 lb (1043 kg)
  • Gross weight: 3,200 lb (1451 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Avco Lycoming YT-53 turboshaft, 840 hp (626 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 230 mph (370 km/h)
  • Range: 230 miles (370 km)
  • Service ceiling: 6000 ft (1830 m)

See also[]

References[]

Notes
  1. Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 583.
  2. Harding, Stephen. U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing, Ltd., 1990. ISBN 1-85310-102-8.
  3. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft 1985, p. 1454.
Bibliography
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
  • Swanborough, F.G. and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam, 1963.
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