In December, 1947, the first of the two prototypes of this aircraft flew. The power from a radial engine was transmitted in variable ratios to a three-blade rotor and the aircraft behaved like a helicopter, but an unusual system provided the necessary thrust for fast flight. This aircraft set a world speed record in June 1948. An attempt was to be made in April 1949 to set another record, but two days before the date selected a rotor head fatigue failure resulted in the crash of the aircraft killing the pilot and his observer. The subsequent grounding of the second protoype for an investigation was only to be expected, and the aircraft did not appear
again until 1953, as an extensively modified second prototype which flew in January 1954; it had two blade-tip jets, fed with air from two compressors driven by the main radial engine.
Name this aircraft. Answer by PM only. Do not answer " Was It " or with a question mark. No changing of an answer after your original submission. Any answer submitted after 1200 hrs E.S.T on the day the answer will post will not count. Answer will post on 05/22/07 at 1200 hrs E.D.T.
Brian [C):-)]