The world already has a Hummer stretch, but soon it may have a Humvee that flies. Research division of the Department of Defense wants someone to build a four-seat, off-road vehicle that can survive in a war zone.
According to the description of their Transformer TX program, DARPA "seeks to combine the advantages of ground vehicles and helicopters into a single vehicle, maximizing flexibility of movement. The TX concept will provide options to counter traditional and asymmetrical threats while avoiding road obstructions."
WIDE ANGLE: Flying Cars
According to Aviation Week, military contractors AAI and Lockheed Martin both have feasible designs for such an aircraft and have moved closer to demonstrating a prototype fly-drive vehicle.
The goal of such a vehicle is to fly personnel from a ship to a land-based location. If, while driving on land, the terrain becomes too dangerous or impassable, the vehicle would fly over the obstacles. It could also work in an unmanned capacity to resupply troops.
Building the vehicle is a huge challenge because manufacturers have to balance size, weight and power. AAI an Lockheed are taking slightly different approaches.
AAI's vehicle (top photo) has the following specs, according to Aviation Week.
-- 7,500 lbs
-- unpowered rotor
-- fold-out wing
-- a single 1,200 shp Honeywell HTS900 turboshaft that drives four electric wheel motors
-- capable of a "jump" take-off
-- drives 80 mph
-- flight speed range is 50 to 155 kt
-- maximum altitude is 10,000 ft
Lockheed Martin's vehicle (above) has the following specs.
-- 7,000lb vehicle
-- 41.f ft wing span
-- ducted fans that tilt from horizontal for lift off and tilt vertical for forward flight
-- Pratt and Whitney EnduroCore heavy-fuel dual rotary engine then powers the four electric wheel motors
-- a pair of turboshaft engines that drive the fans
-- trailing-edge flap to increase lift at low speed
-- flight speed is up to 130 kt
Phase 3 demonstrations of prototypes are scheduled to take place in 2015.
Discovery News / Analysis by Tracy Staedter/
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