Located at the Museum of Flight are a large number of static aircraft on display. One of them is a Williams X-Jet. Although the Museum of Flight website does not contain a webpage devoted to this aircraft, there's a nearby placard that highlights this unusual machine and it reads:
Williams X-Jet
Small Yet Powerful
In the 1960s, the Williams Research Company (now Williams International) began working on creating small, yet powerful fanjet enjines. By 1969, a vertical takeoff and landing system was made a reality. It used a jet-powered flying belt, powered by the Williams WR19 fanjet engine, which provided 430 pounds (1.9 kN)
of thrust.
In the 1970s, Williams developed a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle designated WASP (Williams Aerial Systems Platform)
powered by the more powerful WR19-9 fanjet engine. They also tested a two-man variant.
One-Man VTOL System
The X-Jet, by Williams International, is a small and lightweight one-man VTOL system.
The X-Jet is controlled by leaning in the direction of desired travel and adjusting the power. It can move in any direction,
accelerate rapidly, hover, and rotate on its axis. The X-Jet can stay aloft for up to 45 minutes and travel at speeds above 60 miles per hour (96 km/h).
VTOL vehicles are still in development and can be adapted to a variety of civilian applications including law enforcement,
fire fighting, news coverage, search and rescue, and medical response teams. Possible military applications include liaison,
reconnaissance, mine detection, communications, and rescue missions.
The Museum's X-Jet is one of three original proof-of-concept prototypes. It flew numerous test flights and is displayed exactly as it was after its final flight.