The Bell XV-15 was the culmination of the efforts begun in the 1950s to build a functional hybrid tiltrotor aircraft: a breed between a helicopter and a plane with vertical takeoff and landing, and with hover ability and high speed forward flight. Though the XV-15 was the second successful experimental tiltrotor aircraft built by the US Air Force, it was the first to demonstrate high-speed performance relative to helicopters.The NASA and Army group leader for the XV-15 program, L. G. “Shorty” Schoroers, stated that: (QUOTE) “the tilt-rotor is a novel type of aircraft that incorporates the low speed capabilities of a helicopter, plus it can convert and fly as an airplane. Some people say that you can’t have the best of both worlds, but you can.”