h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Fascinating summary of "another British innovatory project that got away".
I remember Fairey Aviation, and this project, having grown up in Isleworth near Heston Airport, where Fairey were based.
I also had a good friend who worked there for a while.
From time to time, over the intervening years, I've seen the occasional report of similar aircraft under development, but none seem to have got through to regular use.
Perhaps there are not enough perceived military applications to attract defence funding.
Still, thank you to whoever put this report together.
And no other comment since 2008, until now?

Hi there,
Thanks for your comments on this piece, they are appreciated and Im glaad you enjoyed it.

I saw the Rotodyne a couple of years running at the Farnborough Air Show in the '50s, it was quite something. I always thought it a great pity that so much potential was just scrapped.

Fairey also had other aircraft that were 'leading edge' technology of their day, not least the FD2 which held the airspeed record for some years, and a nifty little 'ultralite' helecopter that was powered by tip jets. That one was able to land on the back of a flatbed truck.

Deke

Thank you, Deke,
Looks like the concept may have been down, but is not yet out.

The Rotodyne-like Osprey "is being used in Aghanistan ... " by the US Marines, according to a New York Times report today.
I'd have emailed you the item, but couldn't figure out the appropriate h2g2 email address to which to send it.

You're probably very aware of what's happened with this aircraft in the US, anyway

Best wishes,
Michael Young.

The Osprey certainly seems to have had an interesting and chequered history, but at least got into production, despite the cost.

Is this the article you are referring to?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/us/costly-osprey-symbol-of-fight-to-cut-pentagon.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Regards
Deke