Loose Cannon is proud to preserve the USA's military history via its unique DVD film collections. Using a combination of U.S. Dept. of Defense archive films, combat footage, and period newsreels of the time, each film features actual wartime footage and or first-person accounts from those that were there.

V/STOL PROTOTYPES
A vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL) aircraft is an airplane able to take-off or land vertically or on short runways. Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft are a subset of V/STOL craft that do not require runways at all. Generally, a V/STOL aircraft needs to be able to hover.
Most V/STOL aircraft types were experiments or outright failures from the 1950s to 1970s. V/STOL aircraft types that have been produced in large numbers include the F-35B Lightning II, Harrier and V-22 Osprey.

This DVD features 6 very rare films showing flight test footage of approx. eighteen different V/STOL prototypes. If you ever read any "Tom Swift and his ____" books as a child you will love this DVD!

- ARMY R&D Progress Report #1
Features the DOAK ducted fan aircraft tests. (3 min)

- NASA V/STOL Overview
Shows long history of VSTOL designs and various test flights (most in color). The film begins with footage of the V/STOL X-100, Curtiss-Wright Corporation developed a prototype for a new, vertical takeoff transport aircraft. The X-100 had a single turboshaft engine, which propelled two tilting-propellers, while at the tail swivelling nozzles used the engine's exhaust gases to give additional control for hovering or slow flight. Footage also includes McDonnell XV-1, Bell XV-3, Ryan VZ-3, Boeing VZ-2, Curtis Wright X-19, Canadair CL-84, XC-142A, Bell X-22A, Ryan X-13, Bell X-14, Short SC-1, and Hawker P.1127 (Harrier prototype) (32 min)

- Bell X-22
All color X-22 prototype tests; startup and hover. (3 min)

- Ryan XV-5A
Color flight/hover/landing and transistion testing, at what is most likely Edwards AFB. (16 min)

- LOCKHEED XH-51 and L-286 RIGID ROTOR HELICOPTER
This excellent Lockheed film shows developments in the company's VTOL aircraft research program with a particular focus on nap of the Earth maneuverability, controllability, mission effectiveness and human factors. Shows Lockheed test pilots flying the company's L286 rigid rotor helicopter and the XH-51a compound research aircraft. (27 min)

- V-22 Osprey
Recent stopover at Lake Havasu AZ. Landing, ground taxiing and departure. (2 min)