Impossible Engineering: UC student explains tech behind Osprey precursor

The Science Channel series "Impossible Engineering" turned to University of Cincinnati aerospace engineering student Lynn Pickering to explain the technology behind a flying marvel of aviation: the Bell XV-3.

Pickering, a doctoral student in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science, helped interpret the groundbreaking technology behind the twin-rotor aircraft that was a precursor of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey for Season 10 of "Impossible Engineering."

For the episode, Pickering went to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, to see the last known XV-3, developed in 1955.

"Look at this thing! It looks straight out of a sci-fi film!" Pickering said.

Like the Osprey, the Bell XV-3 could take off vertically. Once airborne, it could rotate its twin propellers vertically, providing the longer range and faster speed of an airplane.

"This aircraft is actually the first attempt at tilt-rotor technology," Pickering said.

Pickering explained the many design and engineering challenges tilt-rotor technology presented. The aircraft were prone to structural and vibration issues.

"This is one of the most exciting pieces of aviation engineering I've ever seen," Pickering said. "The XV-3 might just be one of the most important pieces of aviation engineering. It took this concept of combining two technologies, which a lot of people thought impossible, and proved it was possible."

"Impossible Engineering" is streaming on the Science Channel.