Piasecki X-49 SpeedHawk
The X-49A "Speedhawk" is an experimental gyrodyne under development by Piasecki Aircraft using the airframe of a Sikorsky YSH-60F Seahawk.
Development
The helicopter is the subject of a US$26.1 million U.S. Navy-sponsored project that consists of a Sikorsky YSH-60F helicopter modified by Piasecki as a testbed to test the "Vectored Thrust Ducted Propeller" (VTDP) system. One YSH-60F will be converted to test the feasibility of VTDP under an advanced technology demonstration program. The YSH-60F is powered by two General Electric T700-GE-701C engines.
The demonstration contract was awarded in October 2000 by the Naval Air Systems Command to Piasecki Aircraft. Piasecki will install a lifting wing with flaperons and a vectored-thrust ducted propeller (VTDP), or "ring tail," to a U.S. Navy Sikorsky YSH-60F.
The compound helicopter technology that will be added to the YSH-60F was first demonstrated in trials of the Piasecki 16H-1 and 16H-1A in the early 1960's, when the helicopters were flown at speeds up to 225 mph (360 km/h).
In May 2003, the YSH-60F/VTDP demonstrator was redesignated the X-49A'.[1] During 2004, the X-49 VTDP program was transitioned from the US Navy to the US Army.[2]
Design
The X-49A flight demonstrator is being developed with funding from the US Army's Aviation Applied Technology Division to demonstrate the ability to increase the speed of existing helicopters to 200 kt (360 km/h) or more.[3] The flight demonstrator has been updated with a lifting wing taken from an Aerostar FJ-100 business jet. A ring tail has been added and the helicopter drive train modified to accommodate VTDP. Piasecki conducted integrated tests of the modified drive train at the Navy's helicopter transmission test facility.
The cockpit controls are modified with the addition of a manual prop pitch override on the collective 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 are integrated into the aircraft's existing mechanical controls to reduce pilot workload. The weight added to the X-49A is estimated at about 1,600 lb (725 kg).
Operational history
The X-49A made its first flight on June 29 2007[4] for 15 minutes at Boeing’s Wilmington, Delaware test center.[5] This flight included hovering, pedal turns, and slow forwards and sideways flight using the VTDP for anti-torque, directional and trim control. As late October 2007, the X-49 has nearly completed its initial testing phase. It has flown 24 flights for a total of 19 hours so far.[6]
Operators
Specifications
X-49A
TBD
SH-60B (for comparison)
Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory[7]
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Capacity: 8 passengers or slung load of 6,000 lb or internal load of 4,100 lb for -B, -F and -H models and 11 passengers or slung load of 9,000 lb for -S
Performance
References
- ^ DOD 4120.15-L - Addendum on Designation-Systems.Net
- ^ Graham Warwick (2006-01-03). "Funding may block X-49 progress". FlightGlobal.com. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
- ^ Graham Warwick (2007-07-03). "Piasecki flies X-49A SpeedHawk compound helicopter". FlightGlobal.com. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
- ^ "Piasecki Achieves First Flight of the X-49A VTDP Compound Helicopter Technology Demonstrator", Piasecki Aircraft, June 29, 2007.
- ^ "Rotorcraft Report: Piasecki SpeedHawk Starts Flight Tests", Rotor & Wing Magazine, August 1, 2007.
- ^ Croft, J. "Piasecki nears conclusion of X-49A Pathfinder initial test phase", Flight International, November 2, 2007.
- ^ Taylor, M J H (editor) (1999). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition. Brassey's. ISBN 1 85753 245 7.
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See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
External links
- Piasecki H-60/VTDP
- "High Speed Helicopter set for first flight in June" article on FlightGlobal.com
- Rotor and Wing Cover Story Dec 2007
- Vertiflight Cover Story Winter 2007
- Aerospace Testing International Dec 2007
- Boeing Eyes X-49A Technology for Apache Attack Helicopter