DARPA's "LightningStrike"

[ryoder 1,590]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-unveils-lightningstrike-helicopter-plane-182500981.html

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[quade 4]

ryoder

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-unveils-lightningstrike-helicopter-plane-182500981.html

Seems overly complex for no obvious reason. I also have a difficult time understanding the negative dihedral. I must be missing something.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[yoink 321]

The negative dihedral makes it look cool. Along with the obnoxious rock soundtrack.

Lots of moving parts to go wrong or maintain with that many fans. Seems like an odd way of doing it.

[turtlespeed 220]

quade

***http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-unveils-lightningstrike-helicopter-plane-182500981.html

Seems overly complex for no obvious reason. I also have a difficult time understanding the negative dihedral. I must be missing something.

That's why you aren't with DARPA.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[quade 4]

turtlespeed

That's why you aren't with DARPA.

Obviously!

They must have a use case that is significantly different than what we've seen them use drones for before.

The only clues in the video are the hoped for speeds, V/STOL capabilities and goofy wing design. To me this says forward deployment, rapid response times, and high maneuverability. Things we haven't traditionally given a crap about when it comes to drones, because drones can loiter well beyond a single pilot's endurance. It's seems almost like they want the drone equivalent of a Harrier, but does that even make sense?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[turtlespeed 220]

quade

***That's why you aren't with DARPA.

Obviously!

They must have a use case that is significantly different than what we've seen them use drones for before.

The only clues in the video are the hoped for speeds, V/STOL capabilities and goofy wing design. To me this says forward deployment, rapid response times, and high maneuverability. Things we haven't traditionally given a crap about when it comes to drones, because drones can loiter well beyond a single pilot's endurance. It's seems almost like they want the drone equivalent of a Harrier, but does that even make sense?

I can see rapid response and search uses.

Or perhaps they will be able to track the falling pieces of the F-35 as they peel off the hull.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[Phil1111 1,149]

quade

***http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-unveils-lightningstrike-helicopter-plane-182500981.html

Seems overly complex for no obvious reason. I also have a difficult time understanding the negative dihedral. I must be missing something.

Looks like a wing in ground effects aero design to enhance rolling takeoff performance at high gross weights(??)

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/wig.htm

Drones are replacing attack helicopters and fixed wing assets as their capabilities increase. They are the future of air and ground war. Naturally the military-industrial complex is excited about this opportunity.
https://dronewarsuk.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/israel-and-the-drone-wars.pdf

Excess electrical capacity is handy for laser weapons as well.

[riggerrob 643]

Negative dihedral (aka anhedral) shifts the center of lift forward when it transitions from horizontal flight (wing lift) to hovering (fan lift).

[quade 4]

riggerrob

Negative dihedral (aka anhedral) shifts the center of lift forward when it transitions from horizontal flight (wing lift) to hovering (fan lift).

I can see that, but it makes no sense. It just complicates things.

My guess still remains they wanted to be slightly quicker to roll and initiate a turn in horizontal flight.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[riggerrob 643]

quade

***Negative dihedral (aka anhedral) shifts the center of lift forward when it transitions from horizontal flight (wing lift) to hovering (fan lift).

I can see that, but it makes no sense. It just complicates things.

My guess still remains they wanted to be slightly quicker to roll and initiate a turn in horizontal flight.

................................

Anhedral does reduce roll stability, making it quicker rolling (and pulling) to a new heading.

[theonlyski 8]

quade

It's seems almost like they want the drone equivalent of a Harrier, but does that even make sense?

I doubt it, they've got quite a service range and time on station with the current platforms and for the smaller takeoff/landing sites, usually out in the middle of nowhere, they have other systems (which don't give the same time on station, nor are they quite as capable and completely unarmed) but they do let the guys in the field have a birds eye view in a lot of cases. Usually landing for them involves picking something soft and hitting it slow, I've even seen one that used the side of a vehicle to stop (though it was not suggested) without unexpected damage.

"I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly
DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890
I'm an asshole, and I approve this message

[ryoder 1,590]

theonlyski

Usually landing for them involves picking something soft and hitting it slow, I've even seen one that used the side of a vehicle to stop (though it was not suggested) without unexpected damage.

That doesn't work well for a 747 either: http://ironmaiden.com/news/article/ed-force-one-damaged

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[theonlyski 8]

ryoder

***Usually landing for them involves picking something soft and hitting it slow, I've even seen one that used the side of a vehicle to stop (though it was not suggested) without unexpected damage.

That doesn't work well for a 747 either: http://ironmaiden.com/news/article/ed-force-one-damaged

Well for these systems, it was actually a design plan that they would break apart to distribute the force and the operator would just put the pieces back together and replace a prop/pitot tube. Hell, they didn't even have landing gear! I would never suggest hitting a tug, those things look beefy.

"I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly
DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890
I'm an asshole, and I approve this message

[BIGUN 1,314]

But, But.... it's electric!!!

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[quade 4]

BIGUN

But, But.... it's electric!!!

Turbo-Electric. Gas turbine turns a generator providing electricity for electric motors to turn fans.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[BIGUN 1,314]

quade

***But, But.... it's electric!!!

Turbo-Electric. Gas turbine turns a generator providing electricity for electric motors to turn fans.

Ahhh.... got it. Thanks.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[DanG 1]

Quote

.... it's electric!!!

Boogie woogie woogie woogie

- Dan G

[gowlerk 2,193]

quade

***But, But.... it's electric!!!

Turbo-Electric. Gas turbine turns a generator providing electricity for electric motors to turn fans.

Works for trains and ships.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[turtlespeed 220]

gowlerk

******But, But.... it's electric!!!

Turbo-Electric. Gas turbine turns a generator providing electricity for electric motors to turn fans.

Works for trains and ships.

Now in Trains, Planes and automobiles.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun