An archive of original material relating to the Virtus Transporter System for the Space Shuttle with a ring bound publication of the Space Division of Rockwell International, including drawings by Douglas Ettridge.

Note: The Virtus System would seem to have been a proposed Transport System for the Space Shuttle which did not get beyond the drawing board. I have yet to find a connection between Douglas Ettridge and the Virtus System.At the time [early 1974] NASA Langley had a study ongoing on a large aircraft design called VIRTUS that would have carried the Orbiter under the center wing flanked by twin fuselages and a twin boom tail with power coming from four Pratt & Whitney JT9D turbofans. Design work had proceeded on VIRTUS as far as wind tunnel tests with a 1/34 scale model, but sheer size, long development time and costs involved for an aircraft that would be built in very small numbers resulted in end of the VIRTUS project.(http://aviationtrivia.blogspot.com/2011/01/747-shuttle-carrier-aircraft-...)The archive comprises: 1. An original coloured drawing of the Virtus System - with a cylinder being loaded onto the parent aircraft, watercolour, 24 x 17.5cm on larger backing card, involving a sketch of the Aircraft on paper pasted on board titled in pencil, First Rough Sketch - showing unloading of External Tank. Off Virtus - Mar[ch] 1974 signed Douglas Ettridge. Below title, also in pencil, External Tank 155ft long x 27ft dia.. The words NO FINS appear in top margin.Note: Douglas Ettridge was a leading aviation and motoring artist in oil, acrylic, gouache and watercolour, working in both his native Britain and the United States.2. Original coloured sketch on paper of the Virtus airborn with the Space shuttle flying beneath, 21 x 15cm on A4 page. 3. Colour printed plate, 26 x 18cm on larger page, of the Virtus System with shuttle flying beneath (echoing 2. (above)), titled Original conception (now abandoned) for a Helium filled aircraft for Orbiter airlift. (Artist) Douglas Ettridge. 4. Offprint from Aviation Weekly and Space Technology, 4 Feb. 1974, 4pp., 4to, including title page ('Giant Aircraft Would Lift Shuttle Orbiter') with photographs of a model of the Virtus System and of a sketch similar to but more advanced than Item 1. The text explains the Virtus system proposed by John M.Conroy, builder of the Guppy Aircratft, giving specs and plans. 5. Photocopy of (4) from the published article paginated 38-41. 6) Pamphlet, ring-bound, entitled Space Shuttle Transportation System November, 1973, published by 'Space Division Rockwell International Public Relations Department', 27p printed on alternate pages, look like photocopies, comprising a complete illustrated specification, including drawings, for the Space Shuttle. No copy listed on WorldCat.7. Two sheets scrap paper, 8vo and 4to, with handwritten notes: Edwards AFB with some figures on one and an address written on the other - Charles I Stanton, NASA Headquarters, 600 Independence Avenue, Washington DC Code MHO with scribbles on reverse (Blue Print, Pick Up Fee, etc.). 8. Two photocopies of very faded photographs of the Space Shuttle. 9. About 20 pieces of tracing paper, some scraps, others scrappy, from 33 x 6cm to 36 x 27cm, with sketches of the Virtus System , shuttle and facilities for building or housing[?]; some folded and none signed, but they look like Ettridge's work and one is tipped on to a page similar to 2. With one sketch on similar page.10. Headed notepaper for Santa Barbara Aviation, Inc, Santa Barbara Airport Goleta California with 8 lines of typewritten text on reverse referring to Manufacturing Facility describing another picture of a Hanger for Construction, sub-assembly and final assembly of the Virtus. 11. The original (torn) A4 buff envelope containing this material titled in manuscript, Virtus Transporter 17th March 1974 with an address as follows: KAP-849-2378 | 3151 Pacific Ave. 12. Small pencil drawing of the shuttle, with reinforced edges (like slide).13. Printed diagram , Fuselage Centering and Station Diagram - Section 43. An odd page from larger work.