Lockheed Corporation
Lockheed XV-4 Hummingbird
The Lockheed XV‑4 “Hummingbird” was a experimental vertical‑take‑off and landing (VTOL) platform built by the Lockheed Corporation in the early 1960s for the United States Air Force. Developed under the XV‑4 program, the aircraft first flew on 10 June 1962 at Edwards Air Force Base, representing one of the earliest attempts to combine conventional fixed‑wing flight with a lift‑jet system that could propel the aircraft straight up and down without a runway. The Hummingbird’s twin General Electric J85 turbojet engines were mounted vertically in the fuselage, feeding a series of thrust‑vectoring nozzles that could be swiveled downwards for lift and rearward for forward thrust, while conventional aerodynamic surfaces controlled pitch, roll, and yaw during cruise.
Although only two prototypes were built, the XV‑4 provided valuable data on thrust‑vector control, stability augmentation, and pilot workload in VTOL flight. Its lessons informed later programs such as the Bell XV‑3 tilt‑engine demonstrator and the development of the Harrier jump‑jet. The Hummingbird thus occupies a pivotal place in aviation history as a bold stepping‑stone toward modern vertical‑flight technologies, highlighting both the promise and the challenges of integrating jet lift with conventional aircraft design.
Although only two prototypes were built, the XV‑4 provided valuable data on thrust‑vector control, stability augmentation, and pilot workload in VTOL flight. Its lessons informed later programs such as the Bell XV‑3 tilt‑engine demonstrator and the development of the Harrier jump‑jet. The Hummingbird thus occupies a pivotal place in aviation history as a bold stepping‑stone toward modern vertical‑flight technologies, highlighting both the promise and the challenges of integrating jet lift with conventional aircraft design.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1962
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Lockheed Corporation
- Wikidata ID
- Q1867610