Is it possible?

Question

Is it possible to make vertical take-off passenger aircrafts?

Answer 1

Possible? Absolutely.

Practical? Not with current technology.

If you ever get a chance to ride in a Harrier vertical take off jet, DONT. They are extermely noisy and unpredictable, and have had far more than their share of accidents.

Answer 2

Actually, vertical take-off passenger aircraft already exist - They're called Helicopters.

VTOL aircraft are generally less efficient than traditional aircraft (the engines/propulsion systems have to be scaled to lift the craft rather than just moving it forward fast enough to have the wings generate enough lift to get airborne), so are only used for specific applications.

The reference I posted below has an interesting angle on VTOL aircraft - it's an "aircar" that is being developed that is meant to replace your car some day...

Answer 3

Yes...there's been many helicopter-operated scheduled airlines in the past...and even a few at present.

There's been many on-again-off-again attempts at producing an efficient (that's the key word) VTOL airliner...here's my favorite:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Rotodyne

The biggest roadblock for VTOL aircraft is their operating economics...both in fuel and maintenance. A ticket would cost so much, that most people would choose to drive to the regular airport and save money by simply taking the quick spin down the 10,000 foot runway.

The V-22 is a possibility...but it has so much unproven technology, and in my opinion is so dangerous, that I doubt that any airline could even get insurance for the thing. I wouldn't go near this beast with a quarter-mile pole....and I'm a helicopter pilot!

http://www.groenbros.com/commercial.php

http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com/en/aircraft/military/bellV-22.cfm

http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/cargolifter/

Answer 4

There was supposed to be a commercial version of the VTO craft that the US Marines were getting, But it crashed a lot, so the goverment canceled the progect. I doubt if you'll ever see anything except a specialised aircraft, they are just too complicated and diffilcult to manage.

Answer 5

They are testing a civilian model of the V-22 now.It is smaller than the ones that Marines use.The V-22 is scheduled to be operational in 2007.TheBA-609 is planned for 2010.

Answer 6

I would think so, but as I understand it it would be increadably inefficient. It takes so much fuel to take of vertically in these types of planes that it wouldn't be a good business move for airlines. It would be kind of cool to see, though.

Answer 7

Yes im sure they can create such a craft, but it would be unstable and they would have to spend billions of dollars, prolly wasted in the end cause i guarantee u it wouldnt take, lol

Answer 8

offcourse it is, does it matter if it's carrying rockets or people? as long as you have the engines capable of producing sufficient thrust then you can make anything take off vertically.

Answer 9

Yes its possible but it would be very uncomftarble for the passangers

Answer 10

It is physically possible, but not economically feasible.