The only prototype to fly is at the Florida Air Museum, Lakeland, FL. Because the intended engine never arrived the plane never actually took off or landed vertically. Takeoffs and landings were accomplished by attaching wheels for conventional takeoffs and landings although a few transitions were made in flight as well as one instance of bringing it to a hover.
.VTO – Build a flying model of the most revolutionary of all aircraft — a plane that takes off vertically.
SOME ten years ago, the United States – Navy initiated a development program for a vertical take-off type of plane. Two aircraft of this new species were built, one by the Convair (Consolidated Vultee) designated XFY-1. The other, built by Lockheed Aircraft is designated XFV-1. A model of the latter is the one we are going to build. These planes are not helicopters or convertiplanes. However, they have attributes of both in their flight patterns.