Aircraft - Aviation - Balloons - Helicopters
1958 - The Rotodyne'-Vertical Take-off Airliner Makes History: The unique Fairey Rotodyne vertical take-off airliner mads hisstory-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-than she went forward-like a conventional machine.The machine has been designed to carry 48 passenger-and if its tests are satisfactory-it is expected to be ordered by B.E.A. for the world's first city centre-to-centre airliner. Photo shows. The Rotodyne-during her unique flight at White Waltham, Berkshire
