Doak Model 16 (VZ-4DA) ducted-fan VTOL

[Triton]

Photograph of Doak Model 16 (VZ-4DA) found on eBay.

[link no longer active]
Seller's description:

An original black and white photograph from Doak Aircraft Co. of the DOAK Model 16, the U. S. Army VZ-4DA. This aircraft made the first successful cross country VTOL flight.

 

[Triton]

Another photograph of the Doak Model 16 (VZ-4DA) found on eBay.

[link no longer active]

 

[Caravellarella]

Dear Boys and Girls, here is an extensive article in French about the Doak Aircraft Company Model 16 or VZ-4 tilting ducted-fan VTOL prototype tested by the U. S. Army……

The article comes from the 26th March 1960 issue of Les Ailes......

Terry (Caravellarella)

 

[Boxman]

Over an hour's worth of test flight footage (circa 1959) of the Doak Model 16 recently posted by the San Diego Air and Space Museum (SDASM) Archives on YouTube:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHLfedgcZr8

 

[VTOLicious]

Great find Boxman!

To see this amazing aircraft in the middle of all the old cars and helicopters seems somehow surreal. This confirms my opinion that it was far ahead of its time.
1959: +50years ago!!! Imagine such an aircraft designed, build and equipped with technologies available nowadays!

...found some nice doak-pics recently.

Cheers Michael

 

[Dew]

Few pics of mine from US Army Transport Museum, Ft Eustis a few years back.

https://flic.kr/p/fZusP

https://flic.kr/p/fZucc

https://flic.kr/p/fZsHN

 

[Stargazer]

Topics merged.

Is it yet another internet fanciful invention, or did Doak really call their Model 16 the Archaeopteryx (after the world's most ancient bird known)? I once found that bit of info somewhere, but never saw it again since.

 

[Silencer1]

Hello!
Hope, this thread could be suitable place to add two links for the lectures about Edmond Doak and his personal and his' company achievements in aviation, including VTOL aircraft. Both lectures have been presented by retired Doak's flight test engineer Ray Ulyate by Peninsula Seniors Video:

Edmond Doak Aviation Pioneer Part 1
Edmond Doak Aviation Pioneer Part 2

Not only Doak' aircraft, as well other types mentioned. In my humble opinion - interesting story of few decades of aviation development and people behind the process.
Enjoy!

 

[TomcatViP]

nice one. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Maveric]

Doak Model 16 (VZ-4) from french Aviation Magazine

 

[Mark Nankivil]

I recently bought a bundle of photos on EPay and this inflight image of the Doak Model 16 was part of the batch. The caption of with the photo:

First cross country flight by a U.S. VTOL aircraft is made by the DOAK 16 - Army VZ-4da, a vertical take-off and landing research airplane designed, constructed and tested by the Doak Aircraft Co., Inc., of Torrance, California, for the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. Ducted fans mounted on the wing-tips rotate through 90 degrees, point straight up for vertical flight like a helicopter, turn straight ahead for high speed, long range forward flight like a conventional airplane. Here the Doak 16 is shown with ducts forward in flight across the California desert. U.S. Army today announced acceptance of the Doak 16 on completion of flight test program, and scheduled its first public and press demonstration at a joint meetings of the Aeronautical Sciences and American Helicopter Society in Washington D.C. Also announced was a new contract with Doak for flight evaluation program under the auspices of Army, Air Force and National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

October 13, 1959

Enjoy the Day! Mark