CarterCopter is proposing a version of its unconventional "Heliplane", comparable in speed and payload to Lockheed Martin's C-130J Hercules, as a potential candidate for the US Army's Future Transport Rotorcraft (FTR) programme.
Texas-based CarterCopter is proposing a range of heliplanes, from an unmanned air vehicle up to the FTR-suitablemachine.
CarterCopter views the Bell Quad tiltrotor as its chief FTR rival. "We hope to make the case that the tiltrotor is a niche technology that is fine for today, but should not be pursued in the future," says the company.
Another competitor is Boeing's Advanced Theater Transport (ATT) tiltwing concept aircraft. The no-tail ATT super short take-off and landing transport, also known as "Super Frog", could one day replace USAF Special Operations Command C-130s.
If the design is proven, the Heliplane will be capable of taking off, hovering and landing like a helicopter while achieving the cruise performance of fixed-wing aircraft.
Developed with company funding and small NASA contracts, the Heliplane converts to a gyroplane at speeds above 87kt (160km/h). It does this by unloading the rotorand generating lift from efficient high-aspect ratio wings, while slowing the rotor to minimise drag.
CarterCopter foresees three other Heliplane categories:a single-engined unmanned air vehicle; a twin-engined, five-to-nine passenger Heliplane for training missions and as a light utility transport; while a three-engined model could replace the US Navy's Grumman C-2A Greyhound or serve as a commercial express packages transport.
Source: Flight International
