The Puzzle of Vertical Takeoff

In 1968, Tony duPont, an aeronautical engineer at Garrett AiResearch, visited Pan American Airways to promote new turbofan engines. The airline execs listened politely, then told him that what they really wanted was an eight-passenger jet able to launch from Pan Am’s Manhattan skyscraper and fly nonstop to Los Angeles. (www.airspacemag.com) Mais...