CL-84 Dynavert
* A Canadian experimental twin-engine aircraft designed and manufactured by Canadair Limited between 1964 and 1972
* Its tilt-wing permitted vertical and short-take-off-and-landing (V/STOL)
* Produced as part of a 1950s and 1960s wave of interest in "convertiplanes" (aircraft with helicopter and airplane capabilities)
* Its flight control system was designed by Karlis Irbitis, a brilliant Latvian engineer who came to Canada in 1948
* Although four aircraft were built and three flight tested, production did not ensue: the market was not ready and the aircraft's complex technology required further development
* Convertiplanes only entered service in the first decade of this century
Background History
The CL-84's experimental "tilt-wing" design was an attempt to produce an aircraft that would combine vertical take-off-and-landing with a low-speed, fixed-wing capability. Canadair broke new ground with this design. Four CL-84s were constructed. Even though two crashed through mechanical failure, with no loss of life, the design was considered a success. No production contracts were procured and work on the design was halted.
The Dynavert featured a wing that could be tilted through 90 degrees, complete with two engines swinging large propellers. Vertical take-off was accomplished with the wing tilted. The transition to normal winged flight was accomplished by slowly returning the wing to a horizontal position. This procedure was reversed for vertical landing.
