Forum: Rotary Wing Aircraft

Ok, I'll start out with a link.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/x-50.htm
These things are cool. Basically these can take off like a helicopter and transition to where the rotor is stationary (like a wing) and can fly like a normal plane. These things could easily become the next generation of all sorts of helicopter. I doubt they're going to replace the huge double rotor helos, but the single rotor could probably pretty easily be done up like this.

Ok, now a few possibility questions. I can't start a thread and not ask questions, dumb or not. Ok, a helicopter jet shaft engine has more turbine stages on it correct, so it can get more power to the shaft and less out the back? If this thing operated like that, could the extra turbine stages be stopped or even make it all on one spool and stop that spool? Could the rotor wing reasonably be flapped since the front and back would be the front and back of the wings and it would just be a cluster f***? Is there some way that laminar flow could be promoted such that the airfoil performs much better in wing configuration?

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Enthusiast Joined: Nov 21, 2005 - 12:24 AM Posts: 65

I'll don't bet on this, in special for UAVs, this solution has the same disk load restrictions as the CV-22 (tiltrotor) system, also the complexity and some issues with "transition" modes, don't worth the R&D effort, an UAV based on the POGO-1 design will do the work better, also the Sikorsky's RSRA is a more predictable solution.

Okay, well....yes and no. I am former Blackhawk guy so I'll use reference to that. As far as the turboshaft engine having extra turbine stages, you are absolutely correct. On the Blackhawks, there is a Clutch assy in the intermediate gearboxes. This would allow for engine operation to be seperated from the rotor system and vice versa. Hence, we could lock out the rotors using either a gust lock or rotor brake for engine runs or other maintenance. The flip side of the clutch allowed the rotors to spin freely of the engine. This allows for auto-rotation when one or both engines are lost. So theoretically, that proposal of the idea would work granted you had strong enough engines to provide the thrust for forward flight.

As far as the rotor blades becoming wings....I think you do have a Cluster F*ck for the reasons you stated above. I agree with VMF-214 that other designs will prevail over this. Razz

its sounds like one of those ideas you draw on scrap paper when your 10 years old, theres probably more efficiant ways of producing the same effect

Hmmm, transitioning at low speeds could be interesting to say the least! Very Happy

I know we have the technology for the variable wing shapes. Problem is that it makes a wonderful NASA project but not a good wartime vehicle. Maybe in the far off futre, oh well.

Transformational vehicles tend to be expensive, dangerous, and not well received by lovers of the status quo. It might BE a S.H. war vehicle but we can't get motivated enough to make tilt-rotor's work...it'll be a while.

Velvet, it only takes one man, or women to make things happen! It all depends on whether such a craft is needed and what advantages it offers over our current crop of Helo`s. Never-the-less, an interesting addition to VTOL.

I suppose Old arie may never get to see any of the futuristic machines he's driven in his movies.
and the whisper craft is another one.

I suppose Old arnie may never get to see any of the futuristic machines he's driven in his movies.
and the whisper craft is another one.

Tilit rotors are just about up in full swing now. Kirtland AFB's 58th SOW will receive their first two in April 06. The assembly line in Amarillo is also gearing up for full production. Testing is just about finished with the CV-22s out of Edwards.

I still think that the compond rotorcraft design by Piasecki can do anything the CV-22 can do without 5000 PSI hydraulics.

http://www.piasecki.com/index.html

-Mark

Bunnies` in your pictures is it just me, or do the large rotor wings look like they are going to produce a lot of drag? They have to tilt to generate downwash, aren`t rotor blades a particular shape? The extra drag could slow the craft down considerably.Your right, it does look like a cluster F*&^!!

Yeah, the blades very well might produce a fair deal of drag in aircraft form. Though also think about it, it's very close to other possible stealthy helicopter designs *cough* Comanche *cough*. I don't know what sort of crazy things those people are thinking up, but it's at least cool to think about.

NVGdude, that design actually looks a lot like some of the early gyrocopter (I think that's the term, my PAV stuff isn't immediately available so I can't look it up) designs. Some even not so early. In the future, I can see some really crazy hybridization stuff going on with designs like the one you mentioned and the canard rotorstuff.

NVGdude wrote:

I still think that the compond rotorcraft design by Piasecki can do anything the CV-22 can do without 5000 PSI hydraulics.

http://www.piasecki.com/index.html

-Mark

Never gonna happen. At least not with any Sikorsky acft. I had the incredible honor of sitting down and chatting with Sergei Sikorsky (Igor's son) and his thoughts on the deal was there was too many complications.
My vote is for the good ole 53 Echo. Can damn near fly 250 knots and slingload nearly 50,000 lbs.

Forum: Rotary Wing Aircraft

Canard Rotorwing - Next Generation Helicopters?