These silent “rushes” or dailies from 1967 show rare footage of the Bell X-22, an American V/STOL X-plane with four tilting ducted fans. The aircraft shown is tail 1521, the second of the two prototypes built and the only one to survive the program. As you can see in the footage, takeoff was to selectively occur either with the propellers tilted vertically upwards, or on a short runway with the nacelles tilted forward at approximately 45°. Additionally, the X-22 was to provide more insight into the tactical application of vertical takeoff troop transporters such as the preceding Hiller X-18 and the X-22 successor, the Bell XV-15. Another program requirement was a true airspeed in level flight of at least 525 km/h (326 mph; 283 knots). The X-22 shown here first flew on 26 August 1967. Early that year, it was equipped with a variable flight control and stabilizer system from Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory, which improved flight performance. Although the X-22 was considered to be the best aircraft of its type at the time, the program was canceled. The required maximum speed of 525 km/h was never reached. The second prototype was moved to Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory for further testing; the last flight occurred in 1988. Although the ducted fan propellers were considered usable, they were not used again on a US military aircraft until the F-35B.
The next part of the film shows the F9F-7 Panther and dates to 1955. This footage is likely from Pax River, Maryland and shows testing of aircraft carrier landing equipment. Interestingly, the plane’s landing gear is never deployed so these low passes with the hook down must have been perilous. At 4:44 the aircraft catches the wire and lands. This type of approach appears again at the 5:35 mark and later. It’s unclear precisely what is being tested but it might very well be a new surface for a carrier flight deck.
The Grumman F9F Panther is one of the United States Navy’s first successful carrier-based jet fighters, as well as Grumman’s first jet fighter. A single-engined, straight-winged day fighter, it was armed with four 20 mm (0.79 in) cannons and could carry a wide assortment of air-to-ground munitions.
The Panther was used extensively by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in the Korean War. It was also the first jet aircraft used by the Blue Angels aerobatics demonstration team, from 1949 through late 1954. The aircraft was exported to Argentina and was the first jet used by the Argentine Naval Aviation. Total F9F production was 1,382. The design evolved into the swept wing Grumman F-9 Cougar.
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