Beating Gravity - Ryan Model 92 Vertiplane

The Ryan Model 92 Vertiplane, or VZ-3RY, was built for the US Army under technical direction of the US Office of Naval Research, for the study of stability and control of aircraft of deflected slipstream principle. It was powered by a single 785 shp Lycoming engine mounted in the fuselage, driving two wing-mounted 3-blade airscrews. The slipstream from the props was contained by large wing endplates and deflected downwards by large flaps.

Conventional controls operated spoilers on the upper surfaces of each wing, the rudder, elevator and variable-incidence tailplane. A jet deflection nozzle at the rear of the tailpipe, coupled directly to the pilots controls, imparted yaw and pitch movement. With the flaps lowered, sideways movement of the control column varied propeller pitch differentially for roll control.

Taxi trials began on 7th February, 1958, with the aircraft originally having an enclosed cockpit and taildragger configuration. A tricycle undercarriage was added in the initial test stages. Near vertical takeoff, hovering at various altitudes, and a number of transitions were achieved.

On its 22nd flight, the Vertiplane crashed following a sharp pitch-up through 180°, but it was rebuilt for further testing by NASA at Moffett Field, California.