Key form factor for eVTOL

 China, Germany, helicopter market, photos, prototype, technology, Uncategorized, USA  No Responses »
Aug 112022
 

Is it the final key form factor for most of eVTOL?

It is compatible with vertical take-off, vertical landing and fast cruise speed.

It stores the energy far from the cabin and it keeps the propellers above the embarking passengers.

The streamlined twin boom design, may be the answer, holding the lifting propellers and pushing propellers behind the fuselage.

This design is more and more adopted by companies with the most promising capabilities: Volocopter and Airbus in Germany, Beta Technologies in the USA and Autoflight in China.

VoloConnect (screenshot from manufacturer’s page)

CityAirbus NextGen (screenshot from manufacturer’s page)

Beta Technologies Alia-250c (screenshot from manufacturer’s page)
Autoflight Prosperity 1 (screenshot from manufacturer’s page)

Even Honda unveiled a similar design in artist’s view:

Honda eVTOL concept (screenshot from Youtube video)

Missile or search light?

 prototype, technology, USA, videos  No Responses »
Jan 022017
 
LCITS SuperCobra AH-1W

The video illustrates a typical HMI struggle: to which switch can we allocate a secondary function?

In this case, the Bell AH-1W Super Cobra is equipped with prototype Hydra 70 2,75 inches rockets fitting an infrared seeker. Currently, most of the guided rocket are Laser-guided.

For this airborne test, the integration of the guided-rocket (with inrared seeker, not Laser) did not foresee the installation of a new switch-ON button, but rather allocated the function to an already existing search light command (see the video at 4:36). Therefore you cannot have both the guided rocket and the search light installed at the same time. It would be bad to forget it while you’re flying.

switch to power-on the LCITS fire control system

switch to power-on the LCITS fire control system

Dear pilot, if you want to light up your target, don’t blaze it! Continue reading »

Apache AH-64D training flight

 photos, USA  No Responses »
Sep 242016
 

Aiirsource published a video disclosing the ammunition loading by ground crews of the Apache AH64D helicopter.

Apache maintainers use dummy rounds to test the weapons systems on a Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopter. An ammunition handling check is done periodically to check the onboard weapons systems to include the 30mm M230 E1 chain gun, the AGM-114 Hellfire missile and the Hydra 70 rocket.

Apache AH-64D take-off

Apache AH-64D take-off

Continue reading »

MD 530G Overview

 helicopter market, MD Helicopters, USA, videos  No Responses »
May 012014
 
MD530G

MD530G is based on the MD530F platform with few modifications in order to convert it into a gunship.

High capacity landing gear allowing an additional 400 lbs of the 3750 lbs maximun take off gross weight

Integration of the ER2W (Extended Range Weapons Wing) with 4 weapon stations for:

The cocpkit is equipped with the Garmin 500H and a multi function display

Behind the seats is installed the MOOG store management system for both inner and outer weapon stations, composed of 3 separate components, providing the weapons situation and the situational awareness to the crew:

    • store management computer
    • rocket interface unit
    • stores interface unit

The L3 Wescam MX10 provides EO (Electro Optics) and IR (Infra Red) sensors to the multi function display in the cockpit, and the laser guidance for the guided rockets.

 

MD530G

MD530G

Helicopterlinks.com

 experience, helicopter market, USA, website  No Responses »
Jan 102014
 
helicopterlinks

Do you know helicopterlinks.com?

Helicopter Links’ homepage lists helicopter manufacturers worldwide, whose facilities are currently in-production, available for production, and includes several start-up and research companies.

Other information available on Helicopter Links include a section of helicopter trade shows, helicopter magazines, helicopter associations and organizations, helicopter museums, suppliers and services around the world. Continue reading »

how to speed up the X3

 Eurocopter, experience, prototype, USA  No Responses »
Dec 032013
 
X3 cockpit, Eurocopter high speed prototype

This article refers to the great report by Ernie Stephens in Aviation Today

How to speed up when you’re in the X3? …easy: push the button!

X3 cockpit, Eurocopter high speed prototype

X3 cockpit, Eurocopter high speed prototype

Which one? On the picture above, there is only a thrust control lever. As Ernie explains:

In the X3, the TCL on the center console isn’t touched. Forward thrust is applied by thumbing a small, momentary-contact, hat switch mounted on the collective. Push it forward to increase the power, tap it backwards to decrease it. The TCL moves forward and back as the hat switch is actuated, but is only manipulated by hand as an emergency procedure if the hat switch fails.

The TCL, the handle located on the centre console, is actually not used during the flight. It is only here as a backup.

Thrust Control Lever, on the central control panel in the Eurocopter X3 cockpit

Thrust Control Lever, on the central control panel in the Eurocopter X3 cockpit

Now, look at the collective below and find the hat switch.

hat switch on the collective used to increase translational speed in the Eurocopter X3 prototype high speed helicopter

hat switch on the collective used to increase translational speed in the Eurocopter X3 prototype high speed helicopter

“Are you ready to go flying?” asked Jammayrac. “Yes, sir,” I replied. “All you have to do is push the throttle switch forward,” he instructed. “Don’t do anything else.” And that was when the X3 stopped being a helicopter and became a King Air!

Regardless of whether I “beeped” the throttle hat switch on the collective or held it forward, I could feel the power come in.

source:
http://www.aviationtoday.com/the-checklist/Pilot-Report-The-Exciting-Experimental-Exceptional&thinspX3_76928.html#.Up4dtsTuKT0

More photos:
http://www.blueskyrotor.com/performance/datasheet/Airbus__Helicopters/X3-X3

AW169 competes for the Armed Scout program

 Agusta Westland, helicopter market, Italy, USA  No Responses »
Apr 132013
 

The brand new AW169 of Agusta Westland has been unveiled last week as a new competitor for the Armed Scout program. Is it intended to replace the first proposal with AW139M?

With this new entry, the British-Italian manufacturer brings the performance of the aircraft closer to its competitors with a lighter take-off weight. (OH-58D has a MTOW of 2495 kg or 5500 lbs)

AW139M has a maximum take-off weight of 6800 kg while the AW169 is lighter with approx. 4500 kg.

The concept provides the reliability of the twin engine and the performance of a modern aircraft. The weapon system appears to be standard with a 20 mm cannon and 70 mm rockets. Furthermore, the cannon is installed with an elevation adjustment capability during the flight.

However, the weapon pylons are located besides the doors, which may prevent the installation of a machine gun in the cabin. The Electro Optical Sight installed the nose has also a limited sight capability to the right side.


AW169_for_AAS_4

AW169_for_AAS_3

 

On the picture above, we see the mechanism allowing to adjust the elevation of the cannon. This mechanism needs to be corrected in order to avoid the full reaction forces from the recoil during firing.

AW169_for_AAS_2

AW169_for_AAS_1

 Older Entries