Grumman Nutcracker

The Grumman Nutcracker was a project begun in the mid-1970s by Grumman Aerospace Corporation for a vertical and short take-off aircraft that would largely meet United States Navy requirements for such aircraft in the 1990s, including operation from smaller ships such as Knox-class frigates. Where other vertical take-off designs redirected or swivelled engine thrust, the Nutcracker was to tilt its entire rear fuselage, with engines and tail surfaces, downward by up to 90 degrees. Two Grumman OV-1 Mohawk aircraft were chosen as test machines because their construction suited the idea. Roles studied included submarine hunter, reconnaissance, fighter-bomber and transport, with civil use not ruled out. Small platforms, possibly with a hangar and a mooring crane, would have been enough to take it aboard ship. Grumman registered the concept as a patent, and flight tests were made only with model aircraft. The concept was never built full size and the project was eventually abandoned.