Lockheed CL-945 Loading Rotorcraft

Lockheed CL-945 Loading Rotorcraft

In the mid-60s, various forms of VTOL were all the rage. In 1965, Lockheed responded to a U.S. Army request for proposals with the CL-945 concept, a design for a stowed-rotor helicopter. At low speeds and when hovering, it will operate as a helicopter; at higher speeds, an aircraft-type propulsion system will power it; at speeds much higher than those normally reached by a helicopter, the rotor will stop rotating and will fold back and retract for minimal drag. This is a great idea, but there is a small problem, which is that it is very complicated, heavy and expensive.