HISTORY

The Vought 0250 Merlin was a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft that was designed by theAmerican company Vought and manufactured bynorthrop grumman. While work on the aircraft proceeded to the test flying phase, the project never progressed beyond experimental purposes.

The Merlin was one of multiple efforts to produce a viable VTOL aircraft being conducted around the world throughout the 1950s. Vought had previously experimented with several wingless test rigs, known as the Merlin proto, which influenced the design. In terms of its general configuration, the Merlin was a dual-seat aircraft ; the aircraft was designed to take-off and land vertically, therefore requiring no runway and very little space. Performing its maiden flight during December 1958, the sole prototype was destroyed on its ninth flight on 25 July 1959. While there were intentions at one stage for a second prototype to be produced, financing was never sourced.

CONTROL:

AG1 : Vertical Landing Gyro
normal controls