| As this story of the Rohr 2-175 (71X) unfolds, Don Westergren and Richard will add to and update this text. It is our intent to add as much information as can be found so there will be a permanent record on the development of this marvelous aircraft. Eventually, this story will be re-written to place the events in their proper order. After completion with as much information as can be found, we intend to turn all of this over to the San Diego Air and Space Museum so it will be preserved and hopefully shared to all those who are interested. We would appreciate hearing from anyone out there that has additional information about the Rohr 2-175 (71X). Thank you. Rohr "Project 71X, model Two-175" was a two place ducted fan pusher delta wing airplane. It was all composite construction aimed at low cost "molded" production. This first prototype N62R was powered with a Lycoming 150 Hp engine using a special "high speed cam" to be able to run at 4,000 rpm. It had foldable wings and tail. The original concept was known as a Triphibian that refers to LAND-WATER-SNOW operations with the landing gear and ski arrangement, and all being retractable in the end product. A question has been asked about what happened to the Rohr prototypes. The story of what happened to the prototypes is sad. Rohr built three airframes, the first was designated as the Static Test, never meant to fly. A completed second prototype, which Don Westergren flew had the Lycoming engine mentioned above with a wood propeller. The third prototype was about half completed when the project was stopped. The third plane was designated to have the Rohr designed turbine engine in it. Pictures on this website show the Static Test plane with the Rohr turbine installed for ground runs only. Shortly after the second test flight, Rohr got into financial problems with it's rail transit business - mostly cost overruns building the rail transit trains for Washington DC. As a result, Rohr came dangerously close to bankruptcy and "the banks" took over. New management was installed at Rohr and the "old management" was thrown out. The airplane project was a "pet project" of Bert Raynes, the "old CEO". As such, the three airframes, all the engines, and all the engineering data, drawings, and pictures were stored away in a locked area (Don had no more access to the files). Some time later, the Aerospace Museum in San Diego Balboa Park was burned to the ground by an arsonist. We don't know if the person(s) was ever caught, but the Museum designated the then President of Rohr Fred Garry to be the Chairman of the Museum Reconstruction Committee. Walt Mooney, who led the 71X project had gone back to work at Convair, approached Fred about having Rohr donate the plane and info to the new museum. The idea was not well received and two days later, all the airframes were cut up at night and taken to the Otay dump. Only a few salvageable items like the engines, props, instruments and wheels were salvaged. Don bought one of the props he had flown with and the nose wheel from the flight plane (but the fairing had been cut off). Don also has the Nomex Flight suit he wore on the first flight (it doesn't fit anymore). It is sad that the political idea that "nothing good would ever come out of the old management" caused us all to loose most of the information about the project. The original members of the project are scattered, and most have past away. In 2003, William F. Chana wrote his autobiography called "Over The Wing", published privately but sometimes sold in the museum gift shop. More............. Click here to go to page 2. |
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Rohr 2-175 (71-X) Fan Jet
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| Copyright © 2000 - 2010 by Richard W. Fraser All Rights Reserved |
| Testing was one of the biggest tasks for producing this aircraft for functionality, safety and performance. A lot of money went into this effort, not only in hardware, but for Rohr's dedicated employees as well. |
Click on the photos below to enlarge
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| A tribute to a very fine group of people who had the vision and team spirit to do something different The Rohr 2-175 (originally known as the 71-X) was the vision of several people and a visionary CEO Mr. Bert Raynes, who pushed the design to completion. The 2-175 accomplished it's first goal of a successful flight and if the management of Rohr Industries, Inc. in Chula Vista, California at that time had been given the opportunity of placing the design into production, the company would have made a well deserved profit for many years to follow. |
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| A gracious thank you goes to Don Westergren for sharing these exclusive photos of the 71-X. Don was the test pilot for this wonderful aircraft. Both Richard and Don had the opportunity of working together at Rohr Industries, Inc. on this project and also on Rohr's 2KSES Surface Effect Ship project which is covered in another section of this website. Very rare photos indeed. Although Rohr Industries, Inc. is now owned by Goodrich, the remaining employees can be proud of the many accomplishments and Legacy that "Pappy" Rohr has left behind. |
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- The overall program was called Project 71X because it was started in 1971 as an "X" or
experimental project. The actual name of the design was the "Two-175" for two place with
a top speed of 175 mph (not Kts).
- All altitude air to air photos were on the first official flight on October 14, 1974 at Holtville,
California.
- The second and final flight was on December 17, 1974 at Holtville, California.
- All taxi tests were done at Holtville, California starting early Septemebr 1974 and included
"first daylight under the wheels" on September 18, 1974. All subsequent taxi tests were
under 35 foot altitude on straight passes down a 6,000 foot runway. This allowed the test
pilot to get a feel for the aircraft in ground effect and a little out of it.
| A Little Flight History as provided by Don Westergren |
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NOTICE: This entire document has been made into a book. Available soon...well it was going to be until Don wanted to add actual construction photos that he found. They will be in included in the book.....not on this website. They have never been shown before. |
