Hey my friend,
It wasn't silly at all, all points considered we just don't have the technology to make it viable in the civilian sector, where noise would naturally be the #1 concern (Besides it falling out of the sky due to major power loss hehe ...)
I thought it an interesting post to consider.
While we might not see a vectored thrust aircraft replacing the heli for hovering ops, it still has a viable shot as a transport vehicle, where takeoff and landing areas may be at an airport, etc. Like the V-22, only different.
And I was thinking, I haven't seen data yet on the noise of the "Lift Fan" system of one of the JSF's, it might actually be quieter than the turbine powering it ...
[ 17 August 2001: Message edited by: RW-1 ]