| X-49A "Speedhawk" | |
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| X-49A Speedhawk VTDP Technology Demonstrator in flight | |
| Role | Experimental high-speed compound helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Sikorsky (original airframe) Piasecki Aircraft (modifications and testing) |
| First flight | June 29, 2007 |
| Status | Under development |
| Primary user | United States Army |
| Number built | 1 prototype |
| Developed from | SH-60 Seahawk |
The Piasecki X-49 is a four-bladed, twin-engined, experimental compound helicopter under development by Piasecki Aircraft. The X-49A is based on the airframe of a Sikorsky YSH-60F Seahawk, but utilizes Piasecki's proprietary vectored thrust ducted propeller (VTDP) design and includes the addition of lifting wings. The concept of the experimental program is to apply the VTDP technology to a production military helicopter to determine any benefit gained through increases in performance or useful load.
"Speedhawk" is a concept aircraft[1] based on applying X-49A compounding concepts to a production UH-60 Black Hawk offering better performance, range, and increases in useful load. The "Speedhawk" aircraft includes an SPU (third engine), high forward-swept wing concept, a 45 inch cabin extending fuselage "plug", and several other drag reducing and performance-oriented improvements, including a rotorhead fairing, landing gear streamlining, and a fly-by-wire flight control system.
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Development
The U.S. Navy-sponsored project worth US$26.1 million consists of a Sikorsky YSH-60F helicopter modified by Piasecki as a testbed to validate the "Vectored Thrust Ducted Propeller" (VTDP) system. One YSH-60F was 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 on 28 September by the Naval Air Systems Command to Piasecki Aircraft. Piasecki installed a lifting wing with flaperons and a vectored-thrust ducted propeller (VTDP) to a U.S. Navy Sikorsky YSH-60F.[2]
The compound helicopter technology added to the YSH-60F was first demonstrated in trials of the Piasecki 16H-1 and 16H-1A in the early 1960s, when the helicopters were flown at speeds up to 225 mph (360 km/h). The success of the Pathfinder inspired others to experiment with compounding, resulting in programs such as the AH-56 Cheyenne.
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 US Navy to the US Army.[4]
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.[5] 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 demonstrator aircraft is estimated at about 1,600 lb (725 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[6] for 15 minutes at Boeing’s New Castle County (KILG) flight test center.[7] This flight included hovering, pedal turns, and slow forwards and sideways flight using the VTDP for anti-torque, directional and trim control. The X-49A has completed its initial testing phase, and is continuing with further testing of the technology.[citation needed] Since then, it has flown over 80 flight events with more than 80 total hours logged.[citation needed]
Operators
Specifications
X-49A
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.- Crew: Two[citation needed]
- Powerplant: Two General Electric T700-GE-701C engines
SH-60B (for comparison)
Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory[8]
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
- Length: 64 ft 10 in (19.76 m)
- Rotor diameter: 53 ft 8 in (16.36 m)
- Height: 17 ft 2 in (5.23 m)
- Disc area: 2,262 ft² (210 m²)
- Empty weight: 13,648 lb (6,190 kg)
- Loaded weight: 20,110 lb (9,575 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 21,884 lb (9,927 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft, 1,620 hp (1,208 kW) continuous each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 145 knots (167 mph, 268 km/h)
- Range: 380 nmi (437 mi, 704 km)
- Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,790 m)
- Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)
- Disc loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
References
- ^ http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/issue/cover/17380.html
- ^ "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. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/01/03/203890/funding-may-block-x-49-progress.html. Retrieved on 2007-07-03.
- ^ Graham Warwick (2007-07-03). "Piasecki flies X-49A SpeedHawk compound helicopter". FlightGlobal.com. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/03/215329/picture-piasecki-flies-x-49a-speedhawk-compound-helicopter.html. Retrieved on 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.
- ^ Taylor, M J H (editor) (1999). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition. Brassey's. ISBN 1 85753 245 7.
External links
- Jane's All The World's Aircraft - X-49A
- 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
- Pushing helicopters faster - X-49A - Aviation Week Video
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