A bevy of new vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aircraft conceived to take the military beyond the speed, range and altitude limits of helicopters are scheduled to fly over the next two years. None looks more like science fiction becoming science fact than a sort of flying candy crane formerly known as “Transformer.”
Category Archives: VTOL
Possible Customer for Aerosonde Hybrid ?
Textron Systems has at least one potential customer for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) version of its Aerosonde small unmanned aircraft system. The Aerosonde Hybrid Quadrotor (HQ) adds four rotors to what is otherwise a catapult-launched fixed-wing aircraft. Continue reading
Bell to Assess Potential MQ-8C Fatigue for US Navy
The US Navy (USN) has awarded Bell Helicopter a USD3.3 million contract to investigate the potential for future flight strain, fatigue, and tail boom cracking on the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Continue reading
Drone Sets Record for Longest Flight by VTOL Aircraft
At 2:06 in the afternoon on August 9th, four propellers lifted an unusual drone into the sky. Exactly 22 hours, 29 minutes, and 38 seconds, the drone finally landed, settling back to earth at 12:39 P.M. on August 10th. It landed as the holder of a new record: the longest flight by a vertical takeoff and landing, or VTOL, aircraft. Continue reading
Northrop Grumman Confirms US Navy MQ-8C Fire Scout Order
Northrop Grumman Corporation is set to build 10 additional MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters for the U. S. Navy, giving maritime commanders persistent, real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).
Safran signs MoU with Urban Aeronautics
Safran Helicopter Engines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Urban Aeronautics to study new market opportunities and address power system solutions to support the development of an entirely new platform family of internal rotor aircraft. The Cormorant (formerly AirMule) UAV demonstrator is already flying powered by an Arriel 1D driving two ducted-fans. Continue reading
Korean Air Develops Unmanned Helicopter with Boeing
South Korea’s largest full-service carrier Korean Air Lines Co. and the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. have teamed up to develop unmanned combat helicopters. Continue reading
MQ-8C Fire Scout Sales Take Off – Prices Fall
Three years ago, the U.S. Navy began testing Northrop Grumman’s newest version of the Fire Scout, a helicopter drone derived from the Bell 407 utility helicopter, for use in active naval operations. Now it’s time for Northrop Grumman to start cashing in. Continue reading