The Curtiss X-Planes: Curtiss-Wright's Vtol Effort 1958-1965

by Francis H. Dean

This book is a lavishly illustrated story of Curtiss Wright Corporation's 1950s and 1960s efforts in developing a vertical takeoff (VTOL) aircraft. The author, an insider who headed preliminary design work, gives a brief history of Curtiss Wright, and of the Curtiss Propeller Division that spawned the program, then follows with the development details of the X-100 concept demonstrator and the follow-on X-19 military aircraft. Photos and detailed design descriptions are provided, as well as test flights and test pilot's reports, and finally, never before seen advanced military and civil VTOL aircraft concepts studies.

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001