The DARPA Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) project aims to build an X-plane that is like a realworld Avengers Quinjet. It will be a no compromise subsonic plane. It will land and takeoff like a helicopter but it will be 100 mph faster than the Osprey helicopter. The new SPRINT will go about 450 knots or 520 mph.
The V-22 Osprey has a top speed of 315 miles per hour (mph). This is twice as fast as a helicopter’s top speed. The Osprey’s maximum cruising speed is 277 mph. The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.
The DARPA SPRINT will have internal turbofans. This will enable to be stealthy after taking off.
The V-22 Osprey has had 13 hull-loss accidents with a total of 51 fatalities. During testing from 1991 to 2000, there were four crashes resulting in 30 fatalities. Since becoming operational in 2007, the V-22 has had eight crashes resulting in 16 fatalities and several minor incidents.
The V22 Osprey had 458 total planned, 360 are for the USMC, 50 for the USAF, and 48 for the Navy at an average cost of $110 million per aircraft, including development costs.
The military would want to avoid the safety problems and cost problems of the Osprey with a reliable and faster SPRINT.
New materials and manufacturing will enable the blended body design which can enable more stealth and aerodynamics. Aerodynamics will enable lower fuel costs.
The increased stealth would mean transport of Seal teams like the ones that killed Bin Ladin in non-compromised special stealth helicopters.
Zero Dark Thirty described a stealthier helicopter. You can modify a standard Black Haw. More tail rotor blades than a Black Hawk’s typical four would let the rotor spin more slowly, but still achieve the performance the helicopter needs. Slower rotors are quieter.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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Its actually not that hard.
With Li-On Batteries and a generator auxiliary power unit (APU) they should be able to achieve vertical flight long enough to enable the turbines to push forward to achieve enough lift to enable horizontal flight.
Two systems. Two independent types of flight.
It’s what I have been arguing (unsuccessfully) to the Army and Guard to replace helicopters. But in a more conventional fixed wing configuration….