Bell D326 « Clipper » tilt-rotor for 30 passengers

[Triton]

Artist's impression of Bell D-326 Clipper tiltrotor.

Via Internet Archive:

Commercial Tiltrotor
Specifications include:

• General Electric CT-64 Engine
• Design gross weight: 37,000 lbs.
• Operational weight empty: 24,740 lbs.
• Crew (3): 510 lbs.
• Passengers (30): 6,000 lbs.
• Fuel: 5,750 lbs.
• Long range cruise speed (20,000 ft.): 290 knots
• Radius (45 minute reserve, 5% conservative): 300 nautical miles
• Hover ceiling, OGE, ISA + 20º: 1,000 ft.
• Maximum range (16 passengers, max. internal fuel, 25,000 ft., 30-min. reserve): 1,330 nautical miles

Source:
http://web.archive.org/web/20070306200806/http://www.aiaa.org/tc/vstol/unbuilt/index.htm

 

[Triton]

Artist's impression of Bell D-326 Clipper tiltrotor.

 

[Stargazer]

A three-view arrangement:

 

[Stargazer]

An article on the Bell D326 Clipperwith specs and three-view drawing, taken from Air International dated June 1980:

 

[hesham]

From L+K 1/1982.

 

[yasotay]

Much work of late on trying to get tilt rotor to become economically viable in the regional market. Unfortunately even with the huge technology changes since the idea was originally developed, I do not think they are commercially competitive yet.