VFW V/STOL Transport Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke GmbH (Germany) Heinkel, Focke-Wulf, Weser -> Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke GmbH (1964) -> Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (1980) Select Aircraft HFG 5 HFR 15 VC 180 VC 181 DH 16-4 DF 16-1 TH 16-5 DH 16-3 VC 200 VC 300 VC 400 VC 500 HFG 5/ HFR 15 Lift + Lift/Cruise Beginning in 1967, VFW studied a number of concepts under the ongoing BMVg ZTL (Zukunftstechnologie Luft = "future aviation technology") Program. Martin Lichte was the project manager for these. HFG 5 Lift Power: two in nose and two in tail. Wing span: ca. 18 m Length: ca. 27.8 m Height: ca. 8.2 m Payload: 5 metric ton 3-side-view HFR 15 Lift Power: six in the front fuselage and six in the back fuselage Wing span: ca. 26.4 m Length: ca. 34.8 m Height: ca. 11.6 m Payload: 15 metric ton 3-side-view Top VC 180 Lift + Cruise Submitted in a proposal to the West German Federal Defence Ministry for an 80-100 passenger V/STOL transport projected for service in late 1970s. Two versions: civilian (P) and military (T=transport). Lift Power: Rolls-Royce RB.202-25 (91.1 kN thrust); five on each wingtip pod, which provide roll and yaw control Cruise Power: 3 General Electric turbofans (75.6 kN thrust) in Boing 727 configuration; mounted on rear fuselage, two of which provide pitch control Cruise Speed: 900 km/h (@ 7,000 meters altitude) Wingspan: 21.5 m (70.5 ft)(P); 26.6 m (T) Wing area: 117 m² (1,259 ft²) Length: 35.8 m (117.5 ft)(P); 34.4 m (T) Height: 10.5 m (34.4 ft)(P); 10.7 m (T) Empty Weight: 38,121 kg (84,042 lb)(P); 39,128 kg (86,460 lb)(T) Maximum VTO Weight: 55,366 kg (121,800 lb)(P); 55,563 kg (T) Maximum fuel load: 7,625 kg (16,810 lb)(P); 7,725 kg (17,030 lb)(T) Payload: 10,000 kg (22,046 lb)(P); 9,000 kg (19,846 lb)(T) Capacity: 99 passengers; 130 with stretched fuselage (P); 110 combat troops (T) Military Version: a freighter; bigger fuselage with loading door in nose and a folding ramp 3-side-view VC 180 P 3-side-view VC 180 T 3-side-view VC 180 P with stretched fuselage Top VC 181 Lift + Cruise Lift Power: 12 x Rolls-Royce RB.202-25 (63.7 kN thrust). Lift engines are extended from fuselage in VTOL mode and retracted when cruising. Cruise Power: 4 x GE (57.8 kN thrust) engines under the wings Maximum Speed: 550 mph Cruise Speed: 900 km/h (@ 7,000 m altitude) Wingspan: 29.4 m (96.5 ft) Overall length: 38.2 m Height: 11.4 m (37.4 ft) Empty Weight: 40,433 kg Maximum VTO Weight: 56,978 kg Maximum fuel load: 6,600 kg (14,550 lb) Payload: 10,000 kg (22,045 lb) 3-side-view Top DH 16-4 Lift + Cruise Design begins in late 1971. The "D" indicating delta and "H" for Hubtriebwerk or "lift engine". Lift Power: 16 lift engines mounted along the fuselage Wing span: 20.3 m (66 ft) Length: 38.45 m (126 ft) Height: 10.4 m (34 ft) Capacity: 92 passengers in 2 + 3 seatings 3-side-view Top DF 16-1 Lift + Cruise Design begins in late 1971. The "F" indicating Flachtriebwerk for lift fan. Lift Power: 16 lift engines mounted along the fuselage Wing span: 20.3 m (66 ft) Overall length: 38.45 m (126 ft) Height: 10.4 m (34 ft) Capacity: 92 passengers in 2 + 3 seatings 3-side-view Top TH 16-5 Lift + Cruise Design begins in late 1971. The "T" meaning "tandem". Lift Power: 16 lift engines mounted along the fuselage Wing span (front): 15 m Wing span (rear): 20 m (65 ft) Length: 38.45 m (126 ft) Height: 10.4 m (34 ft) Capacity: 92 passengers in 2 + 3 seatings 3-side-view Top DH 16-3 Lift + Cruise Design published in early 1974. Lift Power: 16 Rolls Royce RB 202 lift engines mounted along the fuselage Cruise Power: two overwing RB.220 engines Maximum Speed: Mach 0.9 Range: 800 km (432 nm) Wing span: 20.3 m (66 ft) Length: 38.45 m (126 ft) Height: 10.4 m (34 ft) Take off weight: 53,000 kg (116,845 lb) Capacity: 92 passengers in 2 + 3 seatings 3-side-view Top VC 200 Tilt-wing Combat Aircraft / Medevac Power: two 1,342 kW engines mounted in the rear of the fuselage Maximum VTO Weight: 6,000 kg (13,230 lb) Payload (STOL): 2,400 kg (5,300 lb) Payload (VTOL): 1,815 kg (4,000 lb) A medical evacuation pod was conceived that would have allowed the transport of two casualties on stretchers and a doctor. 2-side-view Top VC 300 Tilt-wing Combat/ Transport Aircraft Power: four 1,800 hp engines Maximum VTO Weight: 11,000 kg (24,250 lb) Payload (STOL): 4,800 kg (10,582 lb) Payload (VTOL): 3,800 kg (8,377 lb) Crew: 2 It could have ferried 12 troops in a detachable pod or various combinations of bombs 2-side-view Top VC 400 Tilt-wing Developed at the Munich division of VFW under Karl Schwärlzer (head of R&D) and Dr. Siegfried Günter (project manager). Two versions: one civilian and one military. Originally conceived in 1968. The development of the prototype propeller was nearly complete by 1970. A total of 7,000 hr of wind tunnel testing had been completed by 1970. The construction of the test rig was to have been completed just a few months after the program was cancelled in 1971. All long-lead items had already been procured. At that time, all studies, analyses and wind tunnel testing had been success-fully completed. The V/STOL Encyclopedia Series: Volume 1 Germany 16 July 2001. Power (target): 4 x 3,610 kW Power (development aircraft): Two 2,927 kW General Electric T64-GE-16 turboshaft engines on each wing Power (production version): Two 3,042 kW Lycoming LTC-4V-1 engines on each wing Power (late production version): Two 3,982 kW General Electric T64 turboshaft engines on each wing Propellers: 7 m (23 ft) diameter; All interconnected (all propellers will function in event of engine failure) Cruise Speed: 722 km/h (390 kt) at 8 km altitude Maximum Speed: 760 km/h (410 kt) at 4 km altitude Maximum Altitude: 9,800 m (32,000 ft) Maximum rate of climb: 29 m/s (95 ft/s) Range: 800 km (430 nm) Wing span: 19.5 m (64 ft) (rear) Wing Area: 19.9 m² (214 ft²) (forward); 44.6 m² (480 ft²) (rear) Length: 22.4 m (73.5 ft) Height: 7.7 m (25.2 ft) Operating Empty Weight: 28,940 kg (34,600 lb) Fuel load: 2,960 kg (6,525 lb) Payload: 3,455 kg (7,620 lb) Maximum STO Weight: 28,940 kg (63,800 lb) Maximum VTO Weight: 26,475 kg (58,370 lb) Capacity: 58 passengers (civilian version) Luftfahrttechnik, Raumfahrttechnik Band 14 (1968): 96. West Germany. Wing span: 11 m (forward), 19 m (rear) Length: 21.7 m Height: 7.65 m Capacity: 60 passengers (civilian version) or 82 (military version) 3-side-view 2-side-view Wing span: 10.5 m (forward), 19 m (rear) Length: 21.3 m Height: 7.3 m Single wing version designed 1966 Power: 4 General Electric turboshaft engines Propeller: 4 propellers (6.35 m diameter) all interconnected (all propellers will function in event of engine failure). A pitch control propeller was behind the tail (2.93 m diameter). Wing span: 27.0 m Length: 21.2 m Height: 9 m Payload: 5,440 kg for a 1000 km mission 2-side-view In 1966, sea-based variants of the VC 400 concept were studied for the German navy. Four different concepts were considered for this mission. Power: 4 General Electric T64-GE-12 engines Propeller: 4 propellers (7 m diameter) Wing Area: 20 m² (215 ft²) (forward); 40 m² (430 ft²) (rear) Maximum VTO weight: 23,000 kg (50,700 lb) Fuel load: 6,000 kg (13,225 lb) Payload: 9,650 kg (21,275 lb) could operated from solid surfaces could load a 2 m (6.6 ft) wide troop transport pod with 30 folding seats Top VC 500 Tilt-wing Larger version of VC 400. Developed at the Munich division of VFW. The VC 500's major difference to the VC 400 (beyond the size increase) was the departure from the shaft coupling system between the propellers The VC 500 instead used two turboprop engines per propeller, mated by a free wheel arrangement. Power: 8 x T64-GE-S5C-1 3,984 kW engines Propellers: 8 m (26.2 ft) diameter Cruise Speed: 740 km/h (400 kt) at 6 km altitude Maximum Speed: 766 km/h (414 kt) at 3.3 km altitude Range: 800 km (430 nm) Wing span: 21.8 m (71.5 ft) (rear) Wing Area: 32 m² (344 ft²) (forward); 70.4 m² (758 ft²) (rear) Length: 31.8 m (104.2 ft) Height: 9.6 m (31.5 ft) Operating Empty Weight: 26,815 kg (59,116 lb) Fule load: 5,215 kg (11,500 lb) Payload: 9,200 kg (16,300 lb) Maximum STO Weight: 46,800 kg (103,175 lb) Maximum VTO Weight: 41,300 kg (91,000 lb) Capacity: 97 passengers 3-side-view In addition to the baseline VC 500 concept, a number of technological improvements were also considered for increased performance. The second two technologies were seen as potentially increasing the vertical take-off weight. variable diameter propellers (reducing from 8 m to 5.5 m for better cruise performance) variable camber propellers propellers with blown edges/tips Maximum VTO Weight: 44,000 kg (97,000 lb) or 45,000 kg (100,00 lb) Capacity: 120 passengers A larger version of the GE T64, known as the "C" engine, was also envisioned as begin able to produce 6,210 hp (4,630 kW) by 1973 as an alternative. A GE 1/S1A-2T engine was also considered at 9,590 hp (1,751 kW), to be ready in the 1975 timeframe. This would have allowed reducing the number of engines by half, although cross-shafting would probably then have been required. Top

Sources: "1969 Encyclopedia Of Vertical Lift Craft" Vertical World. November 1968: 44 Ford, Terence E. "VFW - profile of a German firm" Air Pictorial. November 1970: 386-390 "World Air News" Air Pictorial. January 1970: 10-11 Luftfahrttechnik, Raumfahrttechnik Band 14 (1968), Band 16 (1970). West Germany. The V/STOL Encyclopedia Series: Volume 1 Germany 16 July 2001. AIAA V/STOL | Built V/STOL Concepts | Unbuilt V/STOL Concepts | V/STOL Wheel | Links