Williams X-Jet

It was designed to carry one operator and to be controlled by leaning in the direction of desired travel and by modulating engine output power.

It could move in any direction, accelerate rapidly, hover and rotate on its axis, stay aloft for up to 45 minutes and travel at speeds up to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).

It was evaluated by the United States Army in the 1980s, but was deemed inferior to the capabilities of helicopters and small, uncrewed aircraft, and so the development of the X-Jet was discontinued.

The WASP II uses a slightly modified and derated version of the WR-19-A7D, yielding 600 lbf thrust from its micro turbofan engine and is designated WR19-7, rated at 570 lbf thrust, after minor modifications and said derating.

Ray Le Grande is one of the WASP II operators trained by Williams International to fly the X-Jet.

One of the three original proof-of-concept prototypes of the Williams X-Jet, on display at the Seattle Museum of Flight .
X-Jet viewed from the side