The Vertol VZ-2 aircraft, this aircraft was a tilt-wing VTOL (vertical take-off and landing), on a runway, this aircraft first flew on 13 August 1957, and was retired in 1965 in Virginia. Produced under Army/Navy contract to develop tilt-wing (wing and rotors rotate as unit) concept. Center-mounted engine drove 2 3-bladed rotors through gear train; 2 ducted fans at the tail--1 rotating in horizontal plane and the other rotating in vertical plane--provided pitch and yaw control at low speeds. Aircraft successfully transitioned during tests c. 1958-9. Power adequate, and pilot John Reeder completed a number of successful transitions from vertical takeoff to horizontal flight and from horizontal flight to vertical flight and vertical landing.