Caption Contest #56 Winner - Critical Engine Edition... (Doak VZ-4)

Click this winning caption pic for a hi-res CoolPix version (without the caption)

 (3 pix, 1 CoolPix, 1 video)

 As it turned out, it was a pretty close race in the voting for the winner, but someone going by the name 'GPS_Direct' wound up on top - congrats! You had my vote too, it definitely made me laugh. You've got yourself a tasty bacon sandwhich at Oshkosh 2011 for your hard work too : )

 It's actually kinda ironic because the airplane pictured, the late 1950's era Doak Model 16 (also known as the VZ-4) was powered by just one engine. Initially an 840 shp turbine and then later by a 1,000 shp turbine. And of course, even if it would have had two engines, some process would have to be in place to cross-shaft or otherwise allow for both ducted fans to continue to make air even if one of the engines quit. But regardless, the caption was still a perfect fit for some sweet avgeek fun.

 I'm including quite a bit of additional info here on the Doak because it's a pretty amazing aircraft. First flown in 1958, the only Model 16 ever built was remarkably successful given the technology of the time. The video below shows that it actually looks completely under control in both the takeoff and landing phase, as well as the transition to forward flight. The VZ-4 was a two-place airplane that had a pretty simple basic airframe... those tilting ducted fans with vanes and stators kinda made things a little more complex tho! I find it interesting that the landing gear came from a Cessna 182.

 
 After the jump are two more pictures of interest and some links that lead to additional websites with cool Doak VZ-4 info.

Click this image to see a gallery of pictures of the actual Doak VZ-4

 The only VZ-4 ever built is on display at the U.S. Army Transportation Museum in Fort Eustis, Virginia. Check out the museum's Doak VZ-4 page for some excellent additional pictures and info. You can also click to see the Aircraft Resource Center page on the Doak. They have a great gallery of pix that help to tell the story a little better. I like the close up pic of the tail cone that shows a variety of tools used to create pitch and yaw control by vectoring the exhaust gases. I find the VZ-4 interesting enough to put the Army Transportation Museum on my gotta-do list.

 Click this image to see a galley of pictures of a 1/72 scale model of the Doak VZ-4

 I also found a cool gallery of pix of a 1/72nd scale model of the Doak at an awesome modeling website: freewebs.com/aeroscale, and you'll find the Doak model page here. Be advised, if you go to the modeling site, you may be there for a while... he's got a huge collection of really cool display models built by a variety of people. Great stuff!

 So anyway, there's a ton of info for you on the very interesting Doak Model 16 VTOL from the late 50's. Hopefully one of these days I'll see the real thing in person and get the chance to better understand the ideas they used to create stability and control. I'll do a much more in-depth report then... oh, and if I was rich, I'd seriously consider building a flying replica of this thing! Can't you see it putting on a nice little VTOL demo at Oshkosh - that would be awesome!

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[safkaly]

safkaly e3d3fd1842 https://worldpeaceceo.com/semtandschooned

[safkaly]

safkaly e3d3fd1842 https://worldpeaceceo.com/semtandschooned