I must admit that Aviation is one of my greatest fascinations along with Motorsports. These two sectors tend to always push the envelope further and further, and it is just amazing to see how the human ingenuity gets drawn to levels that sometimes levels you flat on your back when you sit down and look at all details and accomplishments.

I really wanted to share what I believe will be the future in Helicopter transportation in the long run and probably short hoping aviation in general.

I present you with the:

Agusta Westland BA609




Sikorsky X2




Eurocopter X3

 

Nice cheese graters.

 

YouTube - BA609 Trailer Must See

The unique characteristics of the BA609 tiltrotor combine the benefits of a helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft into one aircraft. Taking off and landing vertically, flying above adverse weather conditions with up to nine people in comfort in a pressurised cabin at twice the speed, typical of helicopters, the BA609 represents the next generation of aircraft transport aimed at government and military markets. This multi-mission aircraft can be configured for search and rescue, law enforcement, maritime surveillance, training and government applications. The BA609 will be certified for instrument flying in known icing conditions and features a composite fuselage and wings, an advanced glass cockpit and full fly-by-wire digital controls. These advanced military-derived technologies will provide new levels of performance, reliability and affordability for future operators. AgustaWestland and Bell harness their combined design, development, production, and customer support strengths in the joint venture company Bell/Agusta Aerospace (BAAC) to provide the BA609.

Source: BA609 | AgustaWestland

 

X2 TECHNOLOGY™ demonstrator

Historically, vertical flight has required a compromise between hover performance and forward speed. If you look at efficiency vs. speed image on the right; the desired helicopter attributes (good hover efficiency, low speed controllability, low downwash, hover endurance) fall to the left of the plot. High disk loading aircraft such as Harriers and JSF, fall on the right of the plot: while fast, their hovering capabilities are limited, and their operational costs tend to increase due to the required power loading. Sikorsky is focused on creating an aircraft that operates to the right on this scale: providing more speed without compromising the essential attributes that make helicopters valuable.
The Sikorsky X2 TECHNOLOGY™ demonstrator aircraft will incorporate several new technologies and demonstrate them in a flight environment. These technologies include an integrated Fly-by-Wire system that allows the engine/rotor/propulsor system to operate efficiently, with full control of rotor rpm throughout the flight envelope, high lift-to-drag rigid blades, low drag hub fairings, and Active Vibration Control. In addition, the aircraft will be used as a 'flying wind tunnel' to determine the main rotor to propulsor aerodynamic interaction, shaft angle optimization for performance, and blade tip clearance for a range of maneuvers. This will allow optimization of the X2 TECHNOLOGY™ suite for future products.



YouTube - Sikorsky X2 Technology helicopter achieves 250kt - Sep 2010

YouTube - Sikorsky - X2 Raider

^ The Raider will be nasty

Source: http://www.sikorsky.com/Innovation/V.../X2+Technology

 

YouTube - The X3 Concept

The video just sums it all up.

 

and expensive LOL. But I like they are pushing the envelope to something new and diferent.

 

Agusta looks like a Ospry knockoff.

 

This^^^

 

Well there is an answer to that. Bell was an original part of the development of the BA609, it was supposed to be the Bell Augusta 609, now just BA609.

 

Heli's are so fricking awesome. One of my neighbors has a little one he parks next to his house. Man they are so cool!

Thanks for the post