X-50 UAV
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:30 pmI've become interested in the following UAV:
"Boeing Phantom Works' Dragonfly VTOL UAV is being developed to demonstrate the canard rotor wing (CRW) concept, in which, after lifting the vehicle vertically, the rotor stops and is locked into place as a wing during cruise, then transitions back to rotor operation for landing. Engine exhaust is ducted normally as well as out the rotor tips. DARPA is jointly funding this concept under a 3 year, $24 million contract begun in 1998, although the Phantom Works has been refining the concept since 1990. Two air vehicles are to be built. First flight is scheduled for spring 2001."
www.uavforum.com/vehicles/conceptual/dragonfly.htm
Here is a model on turbosquid which has some nice images that could be rused as reference:
www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/207635
This is really one of the more interesting and different UAV designs. And the way it flies is truly amazing. I saw an article in Popular Mechanics' "Next 100 Years of Flight" issue, which showed a similar concept being used for passenger "air taxi" type flights. They said that before this concept could fly, they would have to see whether the aircraft was stable during the transition from rotor to wing.
"Boeing Phantom Works' Dragonfly VTOL UAV is being developed to demonstrate the canard rotor wing (CRW) concept, in which, after lifting the vehicle vertically, the rotor stops and is locked into place as a wing during cruise, then transitions back to rotor operation for landing. Engine exhaust is ducted normally as well as out the rotor tips. DARPA is jointly funding this concept under a 3 year, $24 million contract begun in 1998, although the Phantom Works has been refining the concept since 1990. Two air vehicles are to be built. First flight is scheduled for spring 2001."
www.uavforum.com/vehicles/conceptual/dragonfly.htm
Here is a model on turbosquid which has some nice images that could be rused as reference:
www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/207635
This is really one of the more interesting and different UAV designs. And the way it flies is truly amazing. I saw an article in Popular Mechanics' "Next 100 Years of Flight" issue, which showed a similar concept being used for passenger "air taxi" type flights. They said that before this concept could fly, they would have to see whether the aircraft was stable during the transition from rotor to wing.