The Dynavert was developed in the mid-60s after seven years of research shared between the Department of Defense Production, the National Research Council and Canadair. Intending to build an aircraft to be used for transport, search and rescue and reconnaissance that could provide anti-submarine warfare capability and radar surveillance where there was limited carrier deck space, the result was a plane with V/STOL capability.
Challenged with creating a plane with parts that could adapt to both vertical and horizontal flight, the Dynavert was equipped with a wing that could tilt 100 degrees. The result allowed the plane to take-off and land vertically like a helicopter, or act like a regular plane with full STOL capabilities.
First flown on May 7 1965, the CL-84 demonstrated to U.S. and Canadian military powers that V/STOL was possible. And despite some technical difficulties, the program was considered to be a success by the more than 40 pilots that test flew the craft, although only three were ever made.
The Dynavert has been described as "the right plane at the wrong time". In September 1974, the program was cancelled due to lack of customer interest. The remaining craft was donated in April 1984 to the National Aviation Museum.
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