XV-15 litho - NASA's History Office

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Paris Air Show
By early 1981, the XV-15 had sufficiently explored the flight envelope in all
flight modes to provide at least a first-order verification of the validity of all
design-critical analytical methods. This included performance, loads, and structural-dynamic
stability. While much work remained to be done to document the
accomplishment of the initial proof-of-concept goals and to complete the
advanced research objectives of the TRRA project, it was becoming apparent
that the significance of the technical success of the project was recognized only
by a small core of people close to the activity. The NASA/Army Project Office
and Bell, therefore, decided that the emerging tilt rotor technology should be
demonstrated before a wider aviation community. The venue for this public
debut would be the renowned Paris Air Show.
The successful participation of the XV-15 at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget
from June 4 to June 14, 1981, would prove to be one of the key nontechnical
moments in the history of this aircraft. While operation of the XV-15 at the Paris
Air Show was primarily managed by Bell, the presence of this aircraft at this
event marked two “firsts” for NASA. It was the first time that NASA has ever
participated in flight demonstrations of any experimental aircraft at an event having
public international exposure such as the Paris Air Show in France. It also
marked the first public flight demonstration of an aircraft of this type. Its success
paved the way for participation of yet another NASA Ames aircraft, the QSRA,
at the 1983 Paris Air Show.
Participation of the XV-15 TRRA at the Paris Air Show was a cooperative effort
between the NASA, the Army, the Air Force, and Bell. Dr. Irving Statler, director
of the Ames Directorate, AMRDL, enthusiastically supported this activity.
Army top management support came from Dr. Carlson, Director, AMRDL, and
from Dick Ballard, Department of the Army, who advocated the showing of the
XV-15 at the Paris event to Dr. Hans Mark. Dr. Mark (previously Director of the
Ames Research Center when the TRRA project was initiated and, at that time,
Secretary of the Air Force) arranged for USAF Military Airlift Command
(MAC) transport of the XV-15 and support equipment. The logistics of such a
venture were complex.
The schedule for the next few weeks was carefully planned to meet the critical
requirement to arrive at Le Bourget within the assigned time period. This
involved not only the preparations required to return the XV-15 to flight after
shipment to Europe, but the movement of high-value items (including the XV-15,
the spare engine, sophisticated support equipment, tools, and instrumentation)
into and out of foreign countries. The achievement of this important task, tightly
controlled by foreign regulations, was handled by Demo Giulianetti of the Ames
TRRA Project Office.
51 The Carnet documents the items to be shipped and provides an official permit to cross international
borders.