The DP-2 Jet Lift Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft Advanced Technology Demonstration Program

DP-2 is a conceptual transport aircraft designed to have both vertical takeoff and landing and high subsonic speed conventional flight capabilities. The concept is based on a system of thrust deflecting cascade vanes located in the center fuselage, which provide both vertical thrust and control power during jetborne flight. When extended into the exhaust streams of two forward fuselage mounted turbofan engines the vane system can deflect thrust up to 105 degrees downward for vertical lift, and provide pitch/roll/yaw control without peripheral reaction controls. The DP-2 was conceived and initially investigated by DuPont Aerospace Company (DAC) in the early 1980’s, and proposed to the government in 1987. The suitability of the concept for military applications was a subject of intense debate, eventually resulting in funding by Congress and a contract with the Office of Naval Research beginning in 1998. An all composite demonstrator aircraft, designated DP-1, was fabricated and began testing in 2000. The program culminated in a demonstration of steady hover while tethered to a test stand designed to simulate out-of-ground effect operations on Sep 30, 2007. Limited testing in ground effect was also conducted to explore the DP-1 hot gas ingestion. The paper will address the concept, issues with hover testing, test results, and suitability of the concept for military and civil missions.