Bell XV-15 Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft Family
The Bell XV-15 was a joint U.S. Army/NASA tiltrotor demonstrator that combined helicopter-mode vertical flight with airplane-mode cruise. Two aircraft built in 1977 used tilting wingtip nacelles, each containing an engine, transmission, and three-bladed proprotor. An interconnecting shaft allowed one engine to drive both rotors after an engine shutdown. Flight research examined conversion, aeroelastic stability, handling, and operational use, providing a foundation for later military and civil tiltrotors. The wing span was about 9.8 metres; the overall width across the proprotor discs was about 17.4 metres.
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Identity
- Aliases
- XV-15Bell Model 301Tilt Rotor Research AircraftTRRA
- Family Name
- Bell XV-15
- Full Name
- Bell XV-15 Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft Family
- Roles
- researchexperimentaltechnology_demonstrator
- Status
- retired
- Type
- aircraft
- Variant Name
- Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- powered_lift
- Crew Capacity
- 2
- Empty Mass
- …
- Operating Modes
- land
- Takeoff Landing Capabilities
- stolvtol
- Description
- The Bell XV-15 was a joint U.S. Army/NASA tiltrotor demonstrator that combined helicopter-mode vertical flight with airplane-mode cruise. Two aircraft built in 1977 used tilting wingtip nacelles, each containing an engine, transmission, and three-bladed proprotor. An interconnecting shaft allowed one engine to drive both rotors after an engine shutdown. Flight research examined conversion, aeroelastic stability, handling, and operational use, providing a foundation for later military and civil tiltrotors. The wing span was about 9.8 metres; the overall width across the proprotor discs was about 17.4 metres.
- Dimensions
- Height
- …
- Length
- …
- Rotor Diameter
- …
- Width
- …
- Wingspan
- …
- First Flight Year
- 1,977
- Manufacturer
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Count
- 2
- Placement
- wing
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- Modified T53-L-13B free-turbine engines in tilting wingtip nacelles. An interconnecting shaft allows one engine to power both proprotors.
- Name
- XV-15 twin Lycoming LTC1K-4K installation
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 1, 2026 at 18:07:37 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:27:11 UTC