DARPA VTOL X-Plane Program

[riff_raff]

Does anyone think something useful will result from the DARPA VTOL X-Plane program?

Sikorsky, Aurora Flight Sciences face off on DARPA VTOL X-Plane advanced tiltrotor project - Military & Aerospace Electronics

[IFMU]

It looks like a great program to develop engineering talent, assuming the companies do the work in house. Interesting though that these companies have recent prior ties, one outsourcing to the other.
Aurora Flight Sciences - Press Release

[Mac the Knife]

Why can't they just make a better Rotodyne?

There's 40 years of tech and materials advances to draw on.

Just asking.

[Peter-RB]

Possibly because the Fairy Rotordyne, was Totally British in concept and design, and it worked, but politians cooked its Goose just like the TSR2 aka dont develop that and we will sell you low cost F111's ...dont see many of them around today, but the TSR2 would still be blowing bad guys to hell and back had the Politico's not been involved!

Peter R-B
Lancashire

[riff_raff]

Why can't they just make a better Rotodyne? There's 40 years of tech and materials advances to draw on. Just asking.

MtK- One of the main goals of the program is demonstrating a sustained flight speed of 300kt-400kt. Even given the benefit of current aerodynamic and structural engineering technology, I don't think a modern version of the Rotodyne would be capable of a sustained 300kts.