Vertipedia - Bell XV-3 (Ship 1)

Aircraft No. 1 (tail number 4147) was the early configuration with 3-blade rotors. First flight was conducted by Chief Pilot Floyd Carlson at the Fort Worth plant

For a description of the Type see the XV-3 Type page entry.

Overview

Data on design, manufacture and status

Design authority: Bell Aircraft Corporation

Primary manufacturer: Bell Aircraft Corporation

Parent type: Bell Model 200/XV-3

Aircraft status: No longer flying

Configuration

Primary flight and mechanical characteristics

VTOL type: Convertiplane

Compound type: N/A

Lift devices: 2 in Tilt shaft configuration

Crew required: 1 in Single seater arrangement

Landing gear: Skids (retractable)

Aircraft Details

Data on aircraft configuration, weights, flight performance and equipment

Layout and Dimensions

Weights and Performance

Engine Details

Primary Lift Device

Airframe Length excludes the Instrument boom; Overall Height is in VTOL mode.

Overall Dimensions
Overall Height:	4.04 m	13.3 ft
Overall Length:
Overall Width:	15.24 m	50.0 ft

Airframe Dimensions
Airframe Length:	9.25 m	30.3 ft
Airframe Width:	9.14 m	30.0 ft
Airframe Height:	3.96 m	13.0 ft

Landing Gear Dimensions
Landing Gear Base:
Landing Gear Track:	1.22 m	4.0 ft

Cabin Dimensions
Cabin Internal Height:
Cabin Internal Length:
Cabin Internal Width:

Weights
Max Gross Weight (ground):
Max Gross Weight (airborne):
Max Take-off Weight:
Empty Weight:

Climb Performance
Max Rate of Climb:

Hover Performance
Hover Ceiling IGE:
Hover Ceiling OGE:

Limitations
Max Level Flight Speed:
Never Exceed Speed:
Service Ceiling:

Range and Endurance
Max Range:
Max Endurance:

Provided powerplant data is for uninstalled, sea level, static operations.

Powerplant
Number of engines:	1
Designation:	P&W R-985-AN-1 reciprocating
Manufacturer:	Pratt & Whitney

Normal Ratings
Max continuous:
Take-off / rated:	336 kW	450 hp
Intermediate:
Maximum:

OEI Ratings
OEI contingency:
OEI continuous:
OEI 30-second:
OEI intermediate:

Blade airfoil section - NACA 23015

Main Rotor Characteristics
Diameter:	7.01 m	23.00 ft
RPM:
Direction of Rotation:	Not applicable
Hub Type:	Fully articulated

Main Rotor Blade Characteristics
Blade Construction:
Blade Chord:	0.160 m	0.52 ft
Blade Tip Geometry:
Blade Twist:
Number of Blades:	3

Main Rotor Derived Characteristics
Disc Area:	38.60 m²	415.5 ft²
Disc Loading:
Solidity:	0.0435

Main Rotor Blade Derived Characteristics
Blade area per blade:	0.56 m²	6.0 ft²
Tip Speed:

Tail Rotor Characteristics
Diameter:
Configuration:	Unknown
Direction of Rotation:	Unknown
RPM:

Tail Rotor Blade Characteristics
Number of Blades:
Blade Construction:	N/A
Blade Chord:
Blade Twist:

Tail Rotor Derived Characteristics
Disc Area:
Solidity:

Tail Rotor Blade Derived Characteristics
Tip Speed:
Blade Area (per blade):

References

References and sources used

The History of the XV-15 Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft

Maisel M. D., Giulianetti, D. J., Dugan, D. C.
NASA SP-2000-4517, Monographs in Aerospace History # 17, The NASA Histories Series, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Policy and Plans, NASA History Division, Washington D.C., 2000 (page 120)
Website
Very comprehensive and detailed report including dimensions, powerplant and performance. Also covers the design and development history of earlier tilt rotor projects.

Wind Tunnel and Flight Testing the XV-3 Fixed-Wing VTOL

Hohn R. Mertens, Charles E. Davis
AHS Forum 14 Proceedings, April 16, 1958 (page 31)
Meeting paper or Presentation