View source for Bell X-14

{{Short description|Experimental vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) jet aircraft}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name = X-14
 |image = File:Bell X-14 colour ground.jpg
 |caption = Bell Type 68 VTOL
 |type = [[Experimental aircraft|Experimental]] [[VTOL]]
 |manufacturer = [[Bell Aircraft]]
 |designer =
 |first_flight = {{start date and age|1957|02|19|df=y}}
 |introduction =
 |retired = {{end date and age|1981|05|29|df=y}}
 |produced = 1
 |primary_user = [[NASA]]
 |more_users = [[United States Air Force]] [[ United States Army]]
 |number_built = 1
 |status = Private Collection
 |unit cost =
 |developed_from =
 |variants =
}}

The '''Bell X-14''' ('''Bell Type 68''') is an experimental [[VTOL]] aircraft flown in the [[United States]] in the 1950s. The main objective of the project was to demonstrate [[vectored thrust]] horizontal and vertical takeoff, [[wikt:hover|hover]], transition to forward flight, and vertical landing.

==Design and development==
{{External media
|topic=Bell X-14 [[Thrust vectoring#Aircraft|thrust vectoring]] vanes
|float=right
|image1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160803135625/http://www.ropkeyarmormuseum.com/gallery/X14Return2012/RAMX14BReturn02.jpg View of the X-14's thrust vectoring vanes] used to transition from vertical to horizontal flight from the [[Ropkey Armor Museum|Ropkey Armor and Aviation Museum]].}}
Bell constructed the X-14 as an open-[[cockpit]], all-metal ([[duralumin]]) [[monoplane]] for the [[USAF]]. It was powered by two [[Armstrong Siddeley Viper]] [[turbojet engine]]s equipped with thrust deflectors sited at the aircraft's centre of gravity. The engines are fixed in position; transition from vertical to horizontal flight is achieved with a system of movable vanes that control the direction of engine thrust.<ref name="USpatent2879014">{{US patent reference | number = 2879014  | y =1959  | m =03  | d =24  | inventor =Smith, Stanley W.; Sperazz, Charles M. (Sr.)  | title = Jet Propelled Airplane With Jet Diverter }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ropkeyarmormuseum.com/gallery/X14Return2012/RAMX14BReturn02.jpg | title=Picture of Bell X-14 moveable vanes for thrust vectoring | publisher=Ropkey Armor Museum | work=web site, ropkeyarmormuseum.com | access-date=12 February 2013 <!-- BAD ARCHIVE | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108224422/http://www.ropkeyarmormuseum.com/gallery/X14Return2012/RAMX14BReturn02.jpg | archive-date=8 November 2018 | url-status=dead --> | archive-date=8 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108224422/http://www.ropkeyarmormuseum.com/gallery/X14Return2012/RAMX14BReturn02.jpg | url-status=dead }}</ref> Top speed was {{convert|180|mph|km/h}} with a service ceiling of {{convert|20,000|ft|m}}. The X-14 was designed using existing parts from two [[Beechcraft]] aircraft: wings, ailerons, and landing gear from a [[Beech Bonanza]] and the tail group  from a [[Beech T-34 Mentor]].<ref name="NasaHistory">{{cite web | url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-3300/ch8.htm | title=Chapter 8, Boundary Layer Control, STOL, V/STOL Aircraft Research | publisher=NASA | work=(SP-3300) Flight Research at Ames, 1940-1997, Fifty-Seven Years of Development and Validation of Aeronautical Technology | date=1998 | access-date=12 February 2013 |author1=Borchers, Paul F. |author2=Franklin, James A. |author3=Fletcher, Jay W. | pages=55–59}}</ref>

==Operational history==
The X-14 first flew on 19 February 1957 as a vertical takeoff, hover, then vertical landing. The first transition from hover to horizontal flight occurred on 24 May 1958. In [[1959 in aviation|1959]], its Viper engines were replaced with [[General Electric J85]] engines. That year the aircraft was delivered to the [[NASA Ames Research Center]] as the '''X-14A'''. During the development of the [[Hawker Siddeley P.1127|P.1127]], Hawker test pilots [[Bill Bedford]] and [[Hugh Merewether]] visited [[NASA Ames]] to fly the X-14 and acquaint themselves with jet V/STOL aircraft handling prior to the first flights of the prototype P.1127.<ref name="NasaHistory" /> It served as a test aircraft with [[NASA]] until [[1981 in aviation|1981]].

The X14 project provided a great deal of data on VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft and flight control systems, served as a vital training platform for the Apollo space program, and directly contributed to the development of the Hawker Harrier and later the Lockheed Martin F-35B.

In [[1971 in aviation|1971]], the X-14A was fitted with new engines (General Electric J85-GE-19) and redesigned the '''X-14B'''.<ref name=Jets>{{cite web |url= https://www.jetsprops.com/prototype/bells-vtol-aircraft-that-came-handy-for-lunar-missions-practice.html |title= Bell's X-14 VTOL Prototype Aircraft That Actually Worked |author= Craig Bowman |date= January 12, 2023 |access-date= January 10, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240110205830/https://www.jetsprops.com/prototype/bells-vtol-aircraft-that-came-handy-for-lunar-missions-practice.html |archive-date= January 10, 2024 |url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=Flying/> An onboard computer and digital [[fly-by-wire]] control system were also installed to enable emulation of landing characteristics of other VTOL aircraft.{{citation needed|date= January 2024}}

The aircraft was used by NASA as a Moon-landing simulator.<ref name=VAM/> [[Neil Armstrong]] flew the aircraft on numerous occasions. Armstrong himself described learning to hover in the X14 as being like “perching on a bubble of hot air.”<ref name=Flying>{{cite web |url= https://www.flyingmag.com/how-nasas-unconventional-bell-x-14-almost-landed-in-the-scrapyard/ |title= How NASA's Unconventional Bell X-14 Almost Landed in the Scrapyard |author= Jason McDowell |date= March 21, 2023 |work= [[Flying (magazine)|Flying]] |access-date= 10 January 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230322082554/https://www.flyingmag.com/how-nasas-unconventional-bell-x-14-almost-landed-in-the-scrapyard/ |archive-date= March 22, 2023 |url-status= live}}</ref>

The X-14B was used in this test role until it was damaged in a hard landing on 29 May 1981 and never repaired.<ref name=VAM>{{cite web |url= https://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/bell_x-14.php |title= Bell Model 68 X-141957 |work= Virtual Aircraft Museum |date= June 25, 2009 |access-date= January 10, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220702175429/http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/bell_x-14.php |archive-date= July 2, 2022 |url-status= live}}</ref> At the time, there were plans to develop an '''X-14C''' with an enclosed cockpit. There were also plans for an '''X-14T''' trainer. None of these further versions got beyond the planning stage.

During all of its years of service, the X-14 was flown by numerous <!--"over 25 pilots" source?--> pilots with no serious incidents or injuries.<ref name=Flying/><ref name=VAM/>

===Aircraft N numbers===
Although there was only one airframe and serial number, it changed N numbers from 234 to 704 when the airframe was upgraded under NASA.
*'''X-14''' - ''USAF'' ''56-4022'' (Serial Number)<ref name=Jets/>
*'''X-14A''' - ''NASA 234'' (N234NA)<ref name=VAM/>
*'''X-14B''' - ''NASA 704'' (N704NA){{citation needed|date= January 2024}}

==Surviving aircraft==
[[File:X-14 Indiana (2007).JPG|thumb|The X-14 undergoing renovation by a private collector in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Ropkey Armor and Aviation Museum]]

The X-14B was rescued from the scrap yard in 1991 and is undergoing renovation as part of the [[Ropkey Armor Museum|Ropkey Armor and Aviation Museum]].<ref>Lowther, Scott. [http://up-ship.com/blog/?p=1133 "Bell X-14."] ''up-ship.com.'' Retrieved: 3 May 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ropkeyarmormuseum.com/ |title= Bell X-14B |work= Ropkey Armor Museum |date= 2012 |access-date= May 3, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121226114105/http://www.ropkeyarmormuseum.com/gallery_x14return2012.html |archive-date= December 26, 2012 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=January 2024|reason=Per comment on VAM, "The Museum, and the X-14, have moved to Eagle Creek Airpark, outside Indianapolis, Indiana.}}

==Specifications (X-14B)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Bell aircraft since 1935<ref name=Pelletier>{{cite book |last=Pelletier |first=Alain J. |title=Bell aircraft since 1935 |year=1992 |publisher=Putnam Aeronautical |location=London |isbn=1557500568 |edition=1st |pages=119–121}}</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=1
|length ft=26
|length in=0
|length note=
|span ft=33
|span in=9.5
|span note=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqft=179.52
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil='''root:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA 23016.5]]; '''tip:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA 23012]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight lb=3173
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=4269
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[General Electric J85-GE-19]]
|eng1 type=[[turbojet]] engines
|eng1 lbf=3015
|eng1 note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed mph=172
|max speed note=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed note=
|range miles=300
|range note=
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=18000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|thrust/weight=1.4

|more performance=

|avionics=Auto-stabilisation and computer-controlled engine controls.
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
* [[Hawker Siddeley P.1127]]
|lists=
* [[List of experimental aircraft]]
* [[List of VTOL aircraft]]
* [[List of X-planes]]
|see also=
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons category|Bell X-14}}
* {{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1958 |publisher=Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. |location=London |pages=258–259}}
* {{cite book |first1=Steve |last1=Markman |first2=William G. |last2=Holder |title=Straight up : a history of vertical flight |publisher=Schiffer Pub |date=2000 |location=Atglen |isbn=0-7643-1204-9}}

== External links ==
* {{cite AV media |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT-d5qHc6Gk |title= Bell X-14 -- NASA X-Plane VTOL - Early test hover and test flight |date= 2013 |access-date= January 10, 2024}}
* {{cite AV media |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy2o10g1H6Y |title= Bell X-14 (Bell Type 68) |date= October 4, 2019 |work = [[San Diego Air and Space Museum]] archives |access-date= January 10, 2024}}

{{Bell Aircraft}}
{{X-planes}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bell aircraft|X-014]]
[[Category:1950s United States experimental aircraft|X-14, Bell]]
[[Category:V/STOL aircraft by thrust vectoring]]
[[Category:Twinjets]]
[[Category:NASA aircraft]]
[[Category:Mid-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1957]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear]]