Looks good but I still think the V-280 is going to be the choice.
Very simply I think if we were still in the late 70's when this setup was cutting edge it would be a ringer low level hiding in the trees then zipping to the next forest hole popping up for a shoot etc... But today I don't see Russia and the european plain as our main battle line. I do believe Russia a short near term threat but longterm I think it is going to be either insurgent type chaos were flying above AAA at speed is all you need or it is going to be the Pacific were RANGE and speed is what you need.
A tiltrotor or V-280 is really a small aircraft with the ability to land vertical. That equals range, speed, and altitude.
The S-97 is a helicopter that can sprint. That equals better hovering, flying low low in the trees, sprinting to point dipping hiding sprinting to point. Range will not fit the Pacific and speed will not fit the Pacific, flying hiding in tree top is great against in EU but not so much against insurgents with AAA.
I don't know I think the benefits out weigh the negatives. Altitude in a irregular war and speed/range in a Pacific conventional war I think will be the deciders.
Well it's hard to determine whole spec but for now we can see exactly the same problems that V-22 have. The variability of engines on the end of large wings for enemy fire, in case of lost of any right or left power unit the vtol is unable to stay in the air. Need of large landing in comparison to classic helos, that like in case of V-22 limit use of V-280 in urban area. For now we don't know how fast it can transit from fly to hover... if it will be marginal better then V-22 it still way to long.
For now V-280 look's not like something "new" but only as more simple version of V-22... the VTOL Blackhawk if you want.
I am not an aircraft designer and might be totally wrong, but I saw a design that made a lot more sense to me then the V-280.
It had the engines near/ on the fuselage and variable diameter ,retractable rotor blades. That means the rotor can be large enough in vertical flight and small enough when acting like a plane. http://www.eng.umd.edu/html/news/news_story.php?id=7586
Wile I do not know if this is viable I later found info on a 1999 NASA study in to the same thing that might have ..ahem... inspired.. the later design. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.39.1366&rep=rep1&type=pdf
I would personally probably go for the coaxial system over tilt rotors, because this leads to the best helicopter qualities, a smaller footprint, less design-risk and with it likely lower cost wile only sacrificing a little speed. If money was unlimited I would say: do both, since each system has its own strengths in different areas.
The biggest problem is the MV-22 has is that the rotors are so ineffecient. If you could actually make a telescoping rotor work on a military grade tilt rotor that would be a huge break through. I would be worried about reliability and durability but if that design would function then most of the problems a MV-22 has would go away.
This is viewed as replacement for OH-59 Kiowa NOT the Blackhawk. two different program, Scout Helo and the Joint Multi-Role Helicopter. besides, the V280 has the same problems as the v-22. S-97 will be the scout and the Defiant, the Sikorski/Boeing replacemeent for Joint-Multi-Role will be the winners.
Looks good but I still think the V-280 is going to be the choice.
ReplyDeleteVery simply I think if we were still in the late 70's when this setup was cutting edge it would be a ringer low level hiding in the trees then zipping to the next forest hole popping up for a shoot etc... But today I don't see Russia and the european plain as our main battle line. I do believe Russia a short near term threat but longterm I think it is going to be either insurgent type chaos were flying above AAA at speed is all you need or it is going to be the Pacific were RANGE and speed is what you need.
A tiltrotor or V-280 is really a small aircraft with the ability to land vertical. That equals range, speed, and altitude.
The S-97 is a helicopter that can sprint. That equals better hovering, flying low low in the trees, sprinting to point dipping hiding sprinting to point. Range will not fit the Pacific and speed will not fit the Pacific, flying hiding in tree top is great against in EU but not so much against insurgents with AAA.
Problem with V-280 is that he duplicate all problems with V-22 not really fixing any of it.
DeleteI don't know I think the benefits out weigh the negatives. Altitude in a irregular war and speed/range in a Pacific conventional war I think will be the deciders.
DeleteWell it's hard to determine whole spec but for now we can see exactly the same problems that V-22 have. The variability of engines on the end of large wings for enemy fire, in case of lost of any right or left power unit the vtol is unable to stay in the air. Need of large landing in comparison to classic helos, that like in case of V-22 limit use of V-280 in urban area. For now we don't know how fast it can transit from fly to hover... if it will be marginal better then V-22 it still way to long.
DeleteFor now V-280 look's not like something "new" but only as more simple version of V-22... the VTOL Blackhawk if you want.
I am not an aircraft designer and might be totally wrong, but I saw a design that made a lot more sense to me then the V-280.
DeleteIt had the engines near/ on the fuselage and variable diameter ,retractable rotor blades. That means the rotor can be large enough in vertical flight and small enough when acting like a plane.
http://www.eng.umd.edu/html/news/news_story.php?id=7586
Wile I do not know if this is viable I later found info on a 1999 NASA study in to the same thing that might have ..ahem... inspired.. the later design.
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.39.1366&rep=rep1&type=pdf
I would personally probably go for the coaxial system over tilt rotors, because this leads to the best helicopter qualities, a smaller footprint, less design-risk and with it likely lower cost wile only sacrificing a little speed. If money was unlimited I would say: do both, since each system has its own strengths in different areas.
The biggest problem is the MV-22 has is that the rotors are so ineffecient. If you could actually make a telescoping rotor work on a military grade tilt rotor that would be a huge break through. I would be worried about reliability and durability but if that design would function then most of the problems a MV-22 has would go away.
DeleteCertainly has my interest.
Nope, V280 is a different program.
DeleteThis is viewed as replacement for OH-59 Kiowa NOT the Blackhawk. two different program, Scout Helo and the Joint Multi-Role Helicopter.
besides, the V280 has the same problems as the v-22. S-97 will be the scout and the Defiant, the Sikorski/Boeing replacemeent for Joint-Multi-Role will be the winners.