IN FUTURE HELICOPTERS WILL FLY LIKE AIRPLANES
(the article from 2013)
HERE'S WHY NOW IT'S POSSIBLE WITH JETCOPTER
In the wake of the unsuccessful Iran hostage-rescue attempt in 1980, when three of eight helicopters failed and crippled the mission, military planners came to a realization: The U.S. fleet was in desperate need of an aircraft that could combine the speed and range of a jet with the vertical lift of a helicopter. In response, they designed the tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey. The V-22 can carry two dozen troops 1,000 nautical miles at speeds around 250 miles an hour. It is one of the most versatile craft in the U.S. Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) fleet, which includes helicopters and jump jets. It is also the youngest: The V-22 represents the last major addition to the VTOL arsenal in more than 20 years.
As modern warfare evolves to include more lightning-fast, covert strikes similar to the raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound, VTOL is once again a priority for U.S. military planners. Two programs could improve the speed, range, and hover efficiency of VTOL aircraft: the Army launched a program that officially began accepting designs for technology that could be used in next-generation rotorcraft. Sikorsky and Boeing filed a joint proposal based on Sikorsky's X2 rotor and propeller system; Bell Helicopter, the co-developer of the V-22, submitted an updated tilt-rotor; and European aerospace giant EADS put forth a design likely based on Eurocopter's experimental X3. DARPA announced a $130 million VTOL X-Plane program that asks aerospace engineers to propose entirely new approaches to VTOL - a fixed wing, a rotary wing, or maybe something in between.
With top speeds of more than 250 mph, improved VTOL aircraft could increase military reach, shorten travel time for combat troops, and deliver personnel and cargo virtually anywhere, regardless of terrain.
After years without significant innovation, VTOL is flying high once more.
Despite tiltrotors undeniable advantages , there are still weaknesses in their design, which stops their massive popularity in the all VTOL areas:
* very expensive
* still use helicopters complex collective/cyclic controls
* many complex components
* heavy - many gearboxes , cross shafts.
* have very high operating costs - 23000$/h
* still unsafe - many fatal crashes .
So what innovations will allow to fly tiltrotors like airplanes ? By JETCOPTER those are :
* the more aerodynamically efficient forms ,
* the novel VTOL flight mode aircraft stabilization system voiding heavy , complex and expensive cyclic controls ,cross shafts and many gearboxes ,
* lighter weight , more efficient rotor tilting construction ,
* lighter weight and less complex OEI (one engine inoperative) system ,
* hydraulic system replacement with the only electric,
* great reduction of overall aircraft weight ,
* flight safety increasing due failure points reduction ,
* construction engineered for rapid and cost effective production ,
* and the other options ( classified so far )
The modern turboprop (twin engine) has approx. 1300$/h flying costs , recent tiltrotors - 23000$ , NATO's target for next generation medium size rotorcraft - 10000$/h , JETCOPTER target - medium size (12 seats ) , turbo prop speed tiltrotor with less than 4000$/h flying costs.
So the cost reduction is the critical condition even for Air force and with the old tech approach - not solvable . Too many complex and expensive components to be too often checked and overhauled increase flight costs , complex components / parts with long built up time , and finally all together to lower a lot air forces readiness level .
Now Army Aviation has a lot of catching up to do, not only in terms of the performance features provided by the tiltrotor, but also the way in which aircrafts are designed, engineered, manufactured and sustained.
So future (in eyes of 2013 ) tilrotor need to achieve much higher rotorcraft efficiency levels .
NASA's lately released studies showing that the tiltrotors are "the best configuration for the commuter looking to avoid congestion in the typical urban setting". Tiltrotor aircraft were analysed and compared to other UAM reference vehicles on sizing, cost, and performance. The study found that the tiltrotor configuration is capable of reaching speeds 54% to 93% faster than the other electric designs. The increased speed leads to a 24% to 42% decrease in overall mission time.
The study concludes tiltrotor aircraft "appear to be a viable configuration for UAM when speed is a priority" and afford a "high-performance aircraft solution with manageable tradeoffs."
UAM companies that now in will be in a hurry to switch from multiprop design to tiltrotor will meet the other great challenges - collective/cyclic controls , tilt mechanics for 2x large prop and OEI (1 of engine inoperative, which is far more complex to solve than 1 of 12 ) . The swash plate construction - complex , expensive and have many single failure points, cross shafts and gearboxes to be engineered and added - lot of engineering , costs and time. JETCOPTER applied patent for the VTOL mode stabilization system that will allow to control aircraft in VTOL mode without swash plates , applied patent for OEI without cross shafts and gearboxes , patent for for more effective rotor tilting construction , applied design patent for special forms .
For any VTOL use cases , the JETCOPTER tiltrotor to be more efficient than multiprop designs and much faster . Electric for UAM , hybrid for RAM , VIP , MEDEVAC or MILITARY - the JETCOPTER VTOL construction to work better.
JETCOPTER engineered many other tiltrotor construction improvements , furthermore JETCOPTER designed its rotorcraft to be the most cost effective and time efficient in the mass production , with high automation production tech as from the car industry ,so we really can say - JETCOPTER is the developer of worlds most advanced tiltrotor.
Firstly JETCOPTER plan to launch tiltrotor functional real size prototype powered with hybrid powertrain and later to develop all electric EVTOL more efficient than recent multirotors designs.
The JETCOPTER's innovations will make tiltrotor to fly and operate like efficient turboprop airplane .
In 2022 - 2023 period JETCOPTER plan to select few strategic partners to develop aircraft for :
* UAM (urban air mobility),
* RAM (regional air mobility) ,
* high speed MEDEVAC ,
* charter , cargo , VIP
* military
* authorities
* new way traveling/VTOL tourism and other coming markets .
The markets are in long wait for the faster speed, longer distance and safer VTOL mobility. Efficient / affordable Jetcopter VTOL aircraft could open doors to the next mass VTOL air mobility era , to change helicopters in so many areas. Unlike doubtful evtols use cases , tiltrotors are proven construction . Despite billions already invested in tiltrotor constructions , still there are technology gaps, where Jetcopter engineering will find its place.
Also billions already invested in the narrow and still non existing UAM market , and doubtful capabilities evtols .While the investing to the real sustainable VTOL aircraft and to the VTOL aviation model "one for all" will be able to grant the unprecedent return - the large portion of world VTOL market.
Focusing on a single rotorcraft design for all VTOL applications will greatly reduce development costs, entering to market time and significantly will increase customers interest .
D.Skulski
fly@jet-copter.com
