Scaled Composites ATTT

The Scaled Composites ATTT, company Model 133, was a technology demonstration aircraft built by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites in 1986 under contract to DARPA. ATTT stood for Advanced Technology Tactical Transport, a concept for a long-range, high-speed, short takeoff and landing transport for United States special forces that would fill the gap between helicopters and larger transports such as the C-130 Hercules. The proof-of-concept aircraft was built at 62 percent scale of the idea. It used tandem wings joined by long nacelles that carried two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135 turboprop engines, the main landing gear and fuel, and it was built mainly of glass fibre and carbon fibre. A set of eight fast-acting Fowler flaps was meant to give it a very short takeoff. It first flew from Mojave Airport at the end of 1987, completed 51 test flights, and was then rebuilt with a twin-boom tail and a rear loading ramp before a further 13 flights. It is now kept in storage at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base.