Piasecki X-49 SpeedHawk
X-49A "SpeedHawk" | |
---|---|
X-49A SpeedHawk VTDP Technology Demonstrator in flight | |
Role | Experimental high-speed compound helicopter |
Manufacturer | Sikorsky (original airframe) |
Built by | Piasecki Aircraft (modifications and testing) |
First flight | June 29, 2007 |
Status | Phase 1 complete |
Primary user | United States Army |
Number built | 1 prototype |
Developed from | Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk |
The Piasecki X-49 "SpeedHawk" is an
"SpeedHawk" is a concept aircraft
Development
The
The demonstration contract was awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command to Piasecki Aircraft. In addition to the VTDP, Piasecki installed a lifting wing with flaperons on the YSH-60F.[2]
The compound helicopter technology installed by Piasecki had been first demonstrated in trials of the
In May 2003, the YSH-60F/VTDP demonstrator was redesignated the X-49A.[3] During 2004, the X-49A VTDP program was transitioned from the U.S. Navy to the U.S. Army.[4]
In 2013, it was reported that Piasecki Aviation had made plans to use the VTDP design of the X-49 for their entry in the Future Vertical Lift program,[5] but were not chosen when that project moved into its Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) phase.[6]
Design
The X-49A flight demonstrator was developed with funding from the U.S. Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate to demonstrate the ability to increase the speed of existing helicopters to 200 kt (360 km/h) or more.[7] The flight demonstrator was updated with a lifting wing taken from an Aerostar FJ-100 business jet. A ring tail was added and the helicopter drive train modified to accommodate VTDP. Piasecki conducted integrated tests of the modified drivetrain at the Navy's helicopter transmission test facility. The wings were intended to produce lift to offload the rotor so the rotor could be slowed and produce less drag, allowing for higher speed.[8]
The cockpit controls were modified with the addition of a manual propeller pitch override on the collective lever for the ring tail. This is the only visible change to the aircraft's existing mechanical controls in the cockpit. The other controls needed to operate the compound helicopter's systems were integrated into the aircraft's existing mechanical controls to reduce pilot workload. The weight added to the X-49A demonstrator aircraft is estimated at 1,600 lb (730 kg) due to the requirement[citation needed] to not modify the existing mechanical control system.
Operational history
The X-49A made its first flight on June 29, 2007
Specifications (X-49A)
General characteristics Performance
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Eurocopter X3
- Kamov Ka-92
- Mil Mi-X1
- Piasecki 16H Pathfinder
- Sikorsky X2
Related lists
References
- ^ ".aviationtoday.com". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
- ^ "Piasecki X-49 SpeedHawk (United States)", Jane's Helicopter Markets and Systems. Jane's Information Group, 9 May 2008.
- ^ DOD 4120.15-L - Addendum, Designation-Systems.Net, 8 July 2008.
- ^ Graham Warwick (2006-01-03). "Funding may block X-49 progress". FlightGlobal.com. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
- ^ The Other JMR/FVL Contenders Archived 2013-05-02 at the Wayback Machine - Aviationweek.com, April 12, 2013
- ^ AVX joins Bell, Sikorsky/Boeing for Army's JMR-TD development - Flightglobal.com, 6 June 2013
- ^ Graham Warwick (2007-07-03). "Piasecki flies X-49A SpeedHawk compound helicopter". FlightGlobal.com. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
- Flight Global, 2008. Accessed: 17 February 2011.
- ^ "Piasecki Achieves First Flight of the X-49A VTDP Compound Helicopter Technology Demonstrator" Archived 2014-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, Piasecki Aircraft, June 29, 2007.
- ^ "Rotorcraft Report: Piasecki SpeedHawk Starts Flight Tests" Archived 2014-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, Rotor & Wing Magazine, August 1, 2007.
External links
- Official website
- Jane's All The World's Aircraft - X-49A
- "High Speed Helicopter set for first flight in June" article on FlightGlobal.com
- Rotor and Wing Cover Story Dec 2007 Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine
- Vertiflite Cover Story Winter 2007
- Aerospace Testing International Dec 2007 Archived 2008-07-23 at the Wayback Machine
- Boeing Eyes X-49A Technology for Apache Attack Helicopter
- "Hot-Rod Helicopters". Air & Space magazine, 1 September 2009.
- Pushing helicopters faster - X-49A - Aviation Week Video