The US Army and Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is drawing up plans to transition the Frontier Systems Hummingbird A160 from technology demonstrator to operational system following the 29January first flight of the vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle (VTUAV).
DARPA's goal is to demonstrate a "Predator-class" VTUAV, says programme manager Art Morrish. The General Atomics RQ-1 Predator was successfully transitioned from technology demonstrator to operational system and has its origins in the Amber UAV designed by the Hummingbird's creator, Abraham Karem. Transition of the programme from DARPA to the US Army could come in 2003-4, says Morrish.
The goal of the Hummingbird programme is to demonstrate a 1,800kg- (4,000lb-) class vehicle with a 2,500nm (4,600km) range and 40h endurance carrying a payload of at least 140kg. While 40h is the goal, the best helicopter endurance available today is 8h, and "if we get 24h, I'll be thrilled", says Morrish.
The vehicle is designed for efficient flight, with a large-diameter, lightly loaded, rigid rotor and low-drag fuselage. Rotor RPM is variable, running at the most efficient speed for the prevailing conditions, says Morrish. The VTUAV is powered by a 300hp- (225kW-) class gasoline engine that is more fuel-efficient over a wider RPM range than a turbine, he says.
Three air vehicles will be built for DARPA and the US Army. The second should fly by June and the third by the end of the third quarter, says Morrish. Improvements planned for the later vehicles include weight reductions and a four-blade rotor. Work on sensor payloads and rotor de-icing is also planned.
Source: Flight International
