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The XV-15 Tilt Rotor technology demonstrator was the culmination of efforts begun in the early 1950s to produce an aircraft that could takeoff, land, and hover like a helicopter, but with the speed of an airplane. The rotor pylons tilt from vertical to horizontal to eliminate the speed barriers imposed on conventional helicopters by retreating-blade stall and allowed the XV-15 to operate at speeds of 550 kph (345 mph TAS).

This is the second of the two XV-15s built by Bell under a joint NASA/US Army program. It served from 1979 through 2003, demonstrating operations under a wide range of conditions and logged 700 hours in testing. Its success encouraged Bell and the US Marine Corps to develop a scaled-up Tilt Rotor, the MV-22, as a replacement for Marine transport helicopters. In association with Agusta Aerospace, Bell also developed the Model 609 Civil Tilt Rotor with experience gained from the XV-15 program.

 Display Status

This object is on display in Sport Aviation at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

Sport Aviation Panoramas
Panoramic photograph of Bell XV-15 TRRA cockpit Bell XV-15 TRRA Panorama
Object Details
Type CRAFT-Rotary Wing Manufacturer Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
 Dimensions Wingspan: 9.80 m (32 ft 2 in)
Proprotor Diameter: 7.62 m (25 ft)
Length: 12.83 m (42 ft 1 in)
Height: 3.86 m (12 ft 8 in)
Weight, empty: 4,574 kg (10,083 lb)
Weight, gross: 6,804 kg (15,000 lb)
 Inventory Number A20030180000 Credit Line Transferred from National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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