Very interesting new hybrid helicopter/airplane/airship

[rotornut]

BBC News - The new vehicle set to revolutionise the skies (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12110386)

[GoodGrief]

Will it work like the "Cargolifter"?

[ShyTorque]

This "new" idea has been around at least twice before in my memory. Last time, I think it was the early 1990s and the concept used four Sikorsky S-55 rotor systems to power it. Dead duck back then but I can see it could have it's uses.

P.S. Which Thunderbird was that big green one, that carried loads? TB2, wasn't it?

[TRC]

Thunderbird 2 (http://www.oup.co.uk/oxed/children/reference/thunderbirds/tbird2/) - Virgil in command.

5-4-3-2-1 Da- da-di-da-da-da-di-da,etc,etc......

[Savoia]

5-4-3-etc.

No need to reenact the countdown .. as its available in its original classic form here:

BfIAKj3Gl1E

As a youngster (child in fact) Thunderbirds was just brilliant - all the automated features such as the sliding swimming pool, Virgil's 'pop-up' coat rack and, what did it for me .. the flopping palm trees as T2 taxied out of its cave-hangar!

ec2i9sr6vRs&NR=1
Thunderbird 2 - with the 'flopping palm trees' at 4:05 :E

Back to the hybrid T2 lookalike, yes there have been several efforts in recent years to develop this type of vehicle - basically a more efficient airship - and I believe that if designers are able to hammer-out a cost-effective solution combined with acceptable performance that we may well witness these craft gracing the skies in times ahead!

If the BBC report is correct and that the US DoD have offered these chaps £300m to advance this project then, one presumes, it is not to be scoffed at in terms of lack of commitment.

The UK firm are not alone however; Aeros (http://www.aerosml.com/) have been around for quite a while and Boeing (http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q3/080708c_nr.html) have been working on this for the better part of the past five years now - and there are others besides.

http://jornale.com.br/angel/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/aeros_airship_real.jpg
Aeros' hybrid vehicle

http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/boeing-skyhook-2.jpg
And Boeing's effort

"Captain, there's a heavy storm brewing a hundred miles off the starboard bow and its heading in our direction."

"Helmsman, set new heading 240° and Number One advise the client that, together with our previous circumnavigations, we are now expected at port 2 days behind schedule." :E

[Ian Corrigible]

If the BBC report is correct and that the US DoD have offered these chaps £300m to advance this project
Northrop's LEMV (http://www.as.northropgrumman.com/products/lemv), covered here (http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/400804-usa-army-airship-afghanistan-isr.html) and here (http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/463101-new-gen-airships-hybrid-air-vehicles-uk.html) (and, in all likelihood, other places in the ppruneosphere).

I/C

[SASless]

I don't reckon we shall see a Stealth version of the thing any time soon!

But then...paint it up as a Cumulus cloud....

[Upland Goose]

I have been keen as mustard on the airship/hybrid for over 30 yrs. My interest has involved the theory of their flight and the best way to use them where helicopters may be ineffectual because of payload and range.

Unfortunately my' bubble was burst' about two months ago when the shortage of helium was declared.

Discuss. UG:ooh:

[Savoia]

UG

The shortage in Helium supplies has been in the public domain for a good many years now but, one would think that with our various advances in technology that methods of utilising other gases would be developed!

Coincidentally, this morning I received the following news update from Aerostat:


November 18, 2011 Los Angeles, CA.

Today the Aeros 3200 ISR aerostat envelope successfully completed testing for structural integrity and gas retention. The completion of testing allows the system to proceed to final integration. The Aeros 3200 utilizes new proprietary technology that allows the aerostat to sustain the most severe weather conditions, including surviving up to 100 mph winds.

All of this adds up to more time on station for the suite of sensors that will provide an operator with the ability to detect and identify mounted and dismounted targets out to 70 km.

Built on an innovative robotic mooring system, the Aeros 3200 is able to launch and recover the aerostat with a crew of just three personnel, making the system affordable for many missions that require persistent long term surveillance.

The overall design provides the end users with complete 360 degree situational awareness and an actionable intelligence system to identify and defeat targets on land, sea or air.

[Dave_Jackson]

Perhaps they will, or are, reconsidering hydrogen since it is lighter than helium. They know the reason for the Hindenburg disaster.

For safety, there is no reason why the pilot cannot be flying the craft from a remote land based position if it is intended for transportation of goods and not people.

Dave


P.S. I wonder if the diameter of the craft could be variable? This might allow the diameter to be based on the weight of the payload. In other words; Light payload --> Smaller diameter --> Faster cruise speed.