How Do U Get Your Vertical Lift? . . . Next after MRO

While 'broken-down birds' are big business here in Mesa for Able Aerospace and Boeing for weapons re-exports out-of-the-country [BTW a big boost to ancillary logistics and transportation companies],

The U.S. Army Wants to Replace Its Helicopters With These

@justinbachman

‎May‎ ‎17‎, ‎2017‎ ‎1‎:‎00‎ ‎AM

Source: Bloomberg

 

Defense contractors are taking very different approaches to fixing America’s broken-down bird problem. . . For the most part, however, these aircraft are aged and require immense maintenance to stay aloft, which is costly to taxpayers and dents combat capability. The Pentagon, meanwhile, has been struggling to maintain aviation readiness across all service branches, with helicopters among the worst offenders. As a result, the military is working overtime to find a less burdensome way forward for what it calls vertical lift aircraft.

Bell’s Valor

Bell Helicopter is modifying the tilt-rotor technology featured in the existing V-22 Osprey for a smaller Army craft called the V-280 Valor.With a flat carbon composite wing, the V-280 offers a crucial difference from the larger Osprey, which is built in conjunction with Boeing, in that the rotors move but not the entire engine housing. The flat wing design is aimed at affordability, ..The craft has a composite airframe and will cruise at 280 knots (322 mph), slightly speedier than the Osprey but dramatically faster than a helicopter. Bell plans to fly the V-280 Valor later this year. It’s designed to carry four crew and 14 troops.

Sikorsky’s Defiant

 

The SB>1 Defiant is based on what Sikorsky calls “X2 Technology,” which encompasses a coaxial rotor system, an aft propeller, active vibration controls, active rudders and elevators, and fly-by-wire controls. The Defiant will cruise at 250 knots (288 mph) and offer greater hover stability, too. The helicopter is said to offer less downdraft and noise due to its dual rotors.
Sikorsky, however, has faced questions about whether its new tech can translate to heavier helicopter platforms. The company has so far tested it on smaller aircraft such as the S-97 Raider, while the Defiant as currently designed is meant to carry four crew and 12 fully equipped troops. This spring, Sikorsky pushed its first flight test back to 2018. In a statement, the company expressed confidence that it can make the leap to larger aircraft, citing “analytics, and wind tunnel testing.”