Lift Fan V/STOL

The feasibility of the lift fan concept has been demonstrated with the Army XV-5A research aircraft. Both Contractor and Government pilots have evaluated the characteristics of fan powered flight and the compatibility of lift fans with high subsonic speed aircraft design for which the lift fan concept appears to be particularly well suited. A second generation of lift fan technology has been undergoing exploratory development since 1963 and this has provided a current base from which engineering development can confidently proceed to satisfy military V/STOL requirements as they are defined.