Boeing's Phantom Works is planning flight tests of large scale models of its Blended Wing Body (BWB)transport aircraft and Super Frog tilt-wing, tail-less, short take-off tactical transport in 2001.
Meanwhile, Boeing has conducted tethered flight trials of a smaller Super Frog model before free-flight tests scheduled for August. The 2.4m (8ft)-span model of the Super Frog, also known as the Advanced Theater Transport (ATT), achieved lift at speeds below the test objective and proved that the unorthodox configuration is stable and has sufficient pitch control.
Phantom Works general manager George Muellner says the BWB model to be tested in 2001 will be 14% to scale and have a 10.7m span. It will be used to study aerodynamic and control effects in more detail, he adds.
Boeing believes the Super Frog - which will have a cargo hold with the same width as the Boeing C-17 - will meet forthcoming requirements for stealthy short take-off and landing aircraft and, in the longer term, could replace Lockheed Martin's C-130.
The ATT could also be offered for the forthcoming US Joint Transport Rotorcraft (JTR)requirement to replace Boeing CH-47F and Sikorsky CH-53E heavylift helicopters as it could fly loads transferred from C-17s to short, front-line airstrips, reducing the need for large fleets of heavylift helicopters. Boeing could also offer a further development of its Chinook or an all-new tandem rotor helicopter to meet the JTR.
Bell, however, would welcome an extension of the existing V-22 Osprey partnership to include Boeing participation in a proposed quad tiltrotor (QTR). The QTR would be a tandem wing, C-130-sized aircraft using the V-22's Rolls-Royce T406 powerplants (Flight International, 2-8 June).
"At this point it's a Bell initiative. However, Boeing if they choose, would be involved because our arrangement covers everything from V-22 up, and in particular military applications. They have the option to participate with us on the same basis as the V-22 and we would welcome them," says Bell president Terry Stinson.
"They'll have to decide to go one way or the other," says Stinson. "If [QTR] makes sense, we're going to proceed with or without Boeing. We would like to have them as a partner as our relationship is outstanding," he adds.
Meanwhile, Bell says it is being "encouraged" by the US military to pursue QTR, but no government money has been put on the table. "If we can prove the concept, they'll be very supportive of it," says Stinson.
Source: Flight International
