U.S. Vertical Lift Consortium

[riff_raff]

Any of you pundits that think you have a bright idea for improving the current (sad) state of the U.S. rotorcraft industry can now talk to these guys:

Vertical Lift Consortium (http://ivertical-lift.org/index.html)

This group is serious about kick-starting rotorcraft R&D and beefing-up the rotorcraft manufacturing and engineering base in the U.S. Their website is kinda cheesy, but they definitely have the attention of the DoD acquisition chiefs.

[Ian Corrigible]

Rhett Flater's thoughts on the VLC here (http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4441133).

I/C

[riff_raff]

Ian C:

I would somewhat disagree with Mr. Flater's pessimism. I think the OTA R&D funding approach has a shot at being successful. The technical guys that make decisions at the OSD, AATD, AFRL, NAVAIR, etc. are sharp and will do a good job deciding what development work merits funding. I think it's also good that everyone is becoming aware of the US's decline in rotorcraft engineering and manufacturing base.

Having the rotorcraft industry come to a consensus and propose to the DoD what they think should be funded will likely result in more productive research projects, and less politics.

Here's a good backgrounder on the initiative:

US Army JM&L Contracting Center - Procurement Network (http://procnet.pica.army.mil/dbi/download/GoGetSpecialNotice.cfm?SpecialNum=W15QKN-09-Z-0214)

[Dave_Jackson]

Nick Lappos was elected as Chairman of the Vertical Lift Consortium by the Board at it's meeting in April.

Congratulations Nick :D


Dave

[davh12]

I exchanged a few emails this past January w/ Rande Vause, someone up there in the VLC. I was looking to get my foot in the door to get more info on the industry. They were real busy getting things going, I suppose. Ended up with just sending my web address to track progression. They're doing some interesting things. On our side here in the military, I've watched a couple concepts never make it down to all us "ground pounders" on the line.

Dave