Video of Sikorsky X2 in Action

Sorry for the lack of updates. Work has been crazy and I haven't had much spare time! Here's a great video of the X2 from my last post in action. This thing is the coolest aircraft I've seen in a long, long time. So futuristic!!

U.S. Military Developing New Concept Helicopter

Photo courtesy Sikorsky
Aviation Week has a great post about a new Sikorsky design that the U.S. military is hoping to use to replace their current fleet of helicopters. There are plans in the works for scaled up models to replace the Chinook and smaller models to replace the Kiowa.
From the article:

The US Army is kicking off a program to demonstrate technology for a family of rotorcraft that could eventually replace its entire fleet of helicopters - attack, reconnaissance, utility and cargo - as well as Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force helos.
Officials from the Army's Aviation and Missile Research and Development Engineering Center are briefing industry on the "approved and funded" plans here at the International Powered Lift Conference in Philadelphia.
Joint Multi Role -- a JSF With Rotors
Posted by Graham Warwick at 10/5/2010

Read more here.

Hybrid Helicopter Takes Flight

AP/Eurocopter/Patrick Penna

Eurocopter just unveiled it's newest helicopter in development. Codenamed the X3, it's a hybrid of helicopter and airplane that features stubby wings in addition to the typical main rotor design. Interestingly, it doesn't need to have tail rotors, as the forces that are normally cancelled out by the tail rotor are taken care of by the propellers on the small wings. It's a very cool design that's able to get the helicopter going forward at up to 220kts (far faster than a normal helicopter). Read more at the original Yahoo story