Aircraft - Aviation - Balloons - Helicopters
1958 - The Rotodyne vertical take off airliner makes history: The unique Fairey Rotodyne vertical take off airliner made history when the makers announced that it had achieved the conjuring trick for which it was designed. At 4, 000 ft. over the White Waltham Test Airfield it switched from vertical into forward flight. The pilot switched off the power jets on the whirling helicopter blades and started the two prop engines on the wings. The Rotodyne appeared to drop, powerless for several seconds then she went forward like a conventional machine. The machine has been designed to carry 48 passengers and it its tests are satisfactory it is expected to be ordered by B.E.A. for the worlds first city centre to centre airliner. Photo shows The Rotodynes during her unique test flight at White Waltham, Berkshire
