Explore the Ryan XV-5 Vertifan through a curated digital collection bringing together airframe documentation, engine reference material, research reports, videos and photographs. Covering the XV-5A and XV-5B, with VZ-11 programme material, this archive offers several ways to study the aircraft: read the documents, examine the illustrations and photographs, and view footage of both versions.
This is a selected historical collection, not an exhaustive record of the programme. The scope below describes the material offered; references cited inside research reports do not mean that every cited publication is included.
Airframe manuals and programme documents
- XV-5B Pilot Operating Manual — Report No. 64B150D, 5 August 1968.
- S.E.R. XV-5A Flight Test Summary — historical flight-test document.
- VZ-11 programme brochure material — including illustrated lift-fan propulsion explanations and period descriptions of the design concept. The preview pages are extracts from the same brochure, not separate manuals.
Engine reference
- General Electric J85 Turbojet Engine — Illustrated Parts Breakdown, T.O. 2J-J85-54, 30 July 1967. The supplied cover identifies models J85-GE-5A, J85-GE-5B, J85-GE-5C, J85-GE-5D and J85-GE-5E.
The J85 volume is an engine-family parts reference. It should not be read as an XV-5-specific engine installation manual or evidence that every listed engine variant was fitted to the aircraft.
Supporting research reports
Alongside the historical documents, selected modern research reports help readers navigate the Vertifan's design and programme history. Topics discussed include:
- Major propulsion components and their relationships: J85 gas generators, exhaust diverters, crossover ducting and embedded lift fans.
- Wing lift fans, the nose pitch-control fan, inlet doors and exit louvers.
- Hover and transition control concepts, airframe layout and XV-5A/XV-5B configuration differences.
- Flight-test challenges, design trade-offs and discussion of the programme's outcome.
These reports are explanatory research supplements, not original manufacturer manuals, approved engineering data or exhaustive component catalogues. Their interpretations and cited technical figures must be distinguished from the primary-source documents. A source cited in a report is not necessarily supplied as a separate file.
Videos and photographs
The downloadable archive also includes videos featuring the XV-5A and XV-5B, together with photographs for visual and historical reference. This supporting media complements the written documentation and research reports.
Collection scope
A focused resource for aviation historians, researchers, collectors and enthusiasts interested in experimental V/STOL aircraft. Coverage reflects the surviving material selected for this edition and is not uniform across every system or programme phase. Historical scans may vary in legibility and reproduction quality. The collection may develop as further material becomes available; no specific additions or update dates are promised.
Digital format and delivery
Digital download only. Manuals, documents, reports, videos and photographs are supplied in a compressed archive; no physical book or parcel is supplied. Download and extract the archive before opening the files. For ZIP/RAR packages, use a compatible extractor such as 7-Zip on Windows or The Unarchiver on Mac. Open extracted documents with a PDF reader and videos with a compatible media player.
Historical reference notice
For historical research and reference only. These documents are not current approved flight, maintenance, repair or airworthiness data and do not authorize aircraft or engine operation or maintenance.
This digital compilation, structure, indexing and presentation are © Sicuro Publishing. Rights in individual source documents remain with their respective rights holders. Online Aviation Library is an independent archival publisher; no manufacturer or government endorsement is implied.