[Leica] Osprey

[Jim Nichols]

Nice in-flight shots, Ric.

That aircraft was a long time in development.  In 1952, the USAF sought 
proposals for a new vertical take-off / fast cruise speed aircraft and 
received three valid proposals, one each from Bell, McDonnell, and 
Sikorsky.  Each proposed configuration was tested as a large-scale model 
in the old 20-ft Massie Memorial Wind Tunnel at Wright Field.  As a 
young Lieutenant, I was responsible for testing the Bell configuration.  
The test report was in preparation when the Korean Conflict ended and I 
was released early.

Bob Lichten, who designed the aircraft, died of cancer as a fairly young 
man.  It went through numerous variations before finally reaching 
production.

You've got a good vantage point for photos.  I've only seen them once, 
in the 1980s, at the Bell plant between Dallas and Ft. Worth.

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA

On 11/11/2019 6:02 PM, CartersXRd via LUG wrote:
> The Daily Ric
> Sunday, November 19, 2019
> The Osprey frequently circle and rumble over Washington NC. Here are a few views. Hit the link to see several views at proper size.
>
> https://2019.cartersxrd.net/CX2019/2019.11.10.html
>
> Ric Carter
> www.2019.CartersXRd.net
> http://www.facebook.com/ric.carter
>
> The only razor I use is Occam’s.
>
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