National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) VTOL Airliner, Japan (1991)
Medium-range lift/cruise fan 100-passenger VTOL airliner study by Japan's National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL), Fuji, and Ishawajima intended to fly in 2010.
Three core engines to drive either six lift fans beside center-fuselage in aerodynamic wingroot sections or two propulsion fans at tail; rear mounted swept-back wings with large winglets; sweptback foreplanes; airscoops above above rear fuselage.
Flight controls: Pitch-axis control by reaction jets or small fans; rudders in winglets.
Cruising speed: Mach 0.8
Range: 1,350 nautical miles (2,500km;1,550 miles)
Source: Jane's All the Word's Aircraft 1995-1996
Image: Future Aeronautical and Space Systems by Ahmed Noor, Samuel L. Venneri, et al.