Lockheed XVHPS Helpastune

[Triton]

Lockheed XVHPS Helpastune concept art found on eBay. I presume that this was a gag and not a real project.

Seller's description:

Lockheed's US Navy Operational Test and Evaluation Force original concept art for the XVHPS Helpastune…a blending of the USN P-2 Neptune ASW aircraft with helicopter/vertical takeoff capability. This was an attempt to give the Neptune carrier landing capability (the P-2 never did make a carrier landing in its active service carrier). It begged the question, what would you get if a P-2 Neptune and an SH-3 Sea King helicopter had a baby?…the Helpastune! Obviously, it never came to pass…but the concept art is terrific! Produced on heavy tag board and mounted in a wooden frame (it probably hung in some Lockheed engineer's office as humbling experience for many years)

Source:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lockheed-USN-Concept-Art-XVHPS-Helpastune-Operational-Test-and-Evaluation-Force-/152667677235?hash=item238bb3e233:g:JMkAAOSwutpZle2l

 

[TomS]

I agree that this was surely a joke design, not a real effort. The location of the anti-torque rotor alone makes that pretty obvious.