The unusual Bell X-14A


One of the most interesting experimental aircrafts of the Cold War was the NASA Bell X-14A, one of a couple of various VTOL concept aircrafts tested in the 1950's. While the first flight took place on 19 February 1957, in 1962 it was still undergoing tests at NASA's Ames Research Center test facility at Moffett Federal Airfield in California's Silicon Valley, alongside other similar aircrafts: Ryan VZ-3RY and Ryan VZ-11. 


It was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident on 29 May 1981. Below is an image from the NASA archives:

"Date: Mar 3, 1977 Photographer: George Olczak Bell X-14 AIRCRAFT TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY. Research Team: Front Row: Fred Drinkwater, Jim Meeks, Lonnie Phillips, Jim Kozalski, Vic Bravo. Second Row: Bill Carpenter, Sid Selan, Dick Gallant, Terry Stoeffler. Third row: Ron Gerdes, Lloyd Corliss. Fourth row: Cy Sewell, Dick Greif, Ed Vernon, Lee Jones. Fifth Row: Dan Dugan, Jim Rogers, Dave Walton, Terry Feistel. Back Row: Frank Pauli, Seth Anderson. Not pictured: Terry Gossett, Bob Innis, Stew Rolls, Lawson Williamson. Note: Used in publication in Flight Research at Ames; 57 Years of Development and Validation of Aeronautical Technology NASA SP-1998-3300 fig. 118"