The Bell X-22 was an experimental VTOL/STOL aircraft evalutated by the US Navy. It was an unusual tiltrotor design in which lift and thrust were provided by ducted fans driven by four turboshaft engines via a series of gearboxes. Two aircraft were built, the first flying on March 17 1966. One was destroyed in a crash and parts of it were incorporated into the second machine, which flew until 1988.

Specifications (X-22A)

General Characteristics

• Crew: two pilots
• Capacity:
• Length: 39 ft 6 in (12.04 m)
• Span: 39 ft 3 in (11.97 m)
• Height: ft in (8.4 m)
• Wing area: ft² (131 m²)
• Empty: lb ( kg)
• Loaded: lb ( kg)
• Maximum takeoff: 16,755 lb (7,800 kg)
• Powerplant: 4x General Electric YT-58 -GE-8D ducted turboshafts, 1,250 hp (932 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 255 mph (408 km/h)
• Range: 445 miles (712 km)
• Service ceiling: 27,800 ft (8,475 m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
• Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
• Power/Mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)

External links:

Bell X-22

Related content

Related development:

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: X-19 - X-20 - X-21 - X-22 - X-23 - X-24 - X-25