• Side view of a gray, experimental aircraft designed like a helicopter but intended to have speeds similar to an airplane. A one-blade propellor is visible.
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    The McDonnell XV-1 is one attempt to push a VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft through this barrier. Engineers discovered soon after World War II that helicopters of the day were speed limited to less than about 209 kph (130 mph) by a phenomenon called retreating-blade stall.

  • Side view of a gray, experimental aircraft designed like a helicopter but intended to have speeds similar to an airplane. A one-blade propellor is visible.

ID#:

NASM 90-2166 (McDonnell ID#: D4C-1225)

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Boeing

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