NEW BRITISH AIRLINER
First To Take Off Vertically (N.Z. Preu Auoeiatton— Copyright) (Bee. 8 p.m.) LONDON,' April 15. The Fairey Rotodyne. the world’s first vertical take-off airliner, had successfully achieved transition from helicopter to conventional flight, the Fairey Aviation Company announced last night. During tests the aircraft had climbed to several thousand feet as a helicopter. Then the power to the rotor had been closed down and transferred to forwardfacing propellers fixed on stubby wings. The Rotodyne, which is designed to carry 48 passengers over distances of up to 400 miles, has a cruising speed of 180 miles an hour.
Two propellers driven by turboprop engines are used for the forward speed and the rotor serves both for vertical take-off and as an autogyro rotor for lift while cruising. The aircraft will cost between £250,000 and £300,000.
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Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28562, 16 April 1958, Page 13
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137NEW BRITISH AIRLINER Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28562, 16 April 1958, Page 13
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