U.S. Vertical Lift Consortium
 

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

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.

Rhett Flater's thoughts on the VLC here.

I/C

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

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

Congratulations Nick :D


Dave

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