Background: (Introduction) TODAY AT MARIETTA, GEORGIA, THEY BEGAN USING A CAPTIVE FLIGHT DEVICE TO TEACH A HUMMINGBIRD TO FLY. THE HUMMINGBIRD, IN THIS INSTANCE, IS A VERTICAL RISING JET AIRCRAFT NAMED FOR THE TINY BIRD WHOSE FLIGHT PATTERN IT IMITATES.999999,DEVELOPED FOR THE AIR FORCE FLIGHT DYNAMICS LABORATORY AT WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO, THE HUMMINGBIRD TWO WAS ROLLED OUT RECENTLY AT LOCKHEED-GEORGIA COMPANY. BRIGADIER GENERAL RAYMOND GILBERT, AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND, AND MRS. RALPH HARRINGTON, MARIETTA, PARTICIPATED IN CEREMONIES. THIS IS THE ONLY AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT WITH DIRECT JET LIFT.999999,IT IS POWERED BY SIX GENERAL ELECTRIC ENGINES -- FOUR FOR DIRECT LIFT AND TWO FOR LIFT/CRUISE. TODAY PILOT BERNIE DVORSCAK (DEE-VO-SACK) BEGAN TESTING THE PLANE IN A CAPTIVE FLIGHT DEVICE, PRIOR TO ACTUAL FLIGHTS IN AUGUST. THE AIRCRAFT IS RAISED 15 FEET. IT CAN MOVE UP AND DOWN AND SIDEWISE IN THE RIG . . . CHECKING OUT ENGINES AND OTHER SYSTEMS. FOLLOWING LOCKHEED FLIGHT TESTS, NORTH AMERICAN ROCKWELL WILL INSTALL INSTRUMENTS TO PERMIT THE HUMMINGBIRD TO SIMULATE CHARACTERISTICS OF OTHER VERTICAL RISING PLANES. FLIGHT RESEARCH WILL CONTINUE AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA. THE AIR FORCE IS USING THE HUMMINGBIRD TO FULLY EXPLORE VERTICAL RISING TECHNOLOGY, AND TO DEVELOP CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR FUTURE AIRCRAFT. . . ANTICIPATING EVENTUAL OPERATIONAL MILITARY AND CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT WHICH TAKE OFF VERTICALLY, LIKE A HELICOPTER, AND LEVEL OFF AND FLY FORWARD LIKE A JET FIGHTER.
