The "sling-wing" that started it all is heading to a new home. The experimental Bell XV-15 Tiltrotor, which was one of the first truly promising aircraft to show the ability to takeoff, land and hover like a helicopter and fly like a conventional airplane, will become the first artifact to land on the grounds of the National Air and Space Museum's new Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. The aircraft has been in service for 26 years.

The event will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 11:00 a.m. Scheduled to be in attendance include such luminaries as Gen. J.R. "Jack" Dailey, Director of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum; J. Victor Lebacqz, acting Associate Administrator for the Office of Aerospace Technology, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Michael Redenbaugh, Chief Executive Officer, Bell Helicopter; and Roger Connor, superintendent of the vertical flight collection, National Air and Space Museum. The Smithsonian has indicated that this event will not be open to the public.

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, located near Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, will open to the public on December 15 and will include the Smithsonian's unparalleled vertical flight collection.

FMI: www.nasm.si.edu/nasm/ext