Originally posted by planeman
ATS-3 Unmanned Air Vehicle
Please submit your design proposals below. Closure for submissions 12th March 2006 after which time the winner will be decided by public vote.
Outline specification requirements:
Type: Unmanned air vehicle for tactical surveillance
Weapons: None. Potential for weaponization a plus but not required
Endurance: 6hrs+
Altitude: 15,000ft +
Loiter speed: slower the better
Transit speed (max): faster the better
Maximum weight (unarmed): 1,200lb
Maximum wing span: 10m
Unit cost: No more than $2m per unit
THE VOTE WILL BE SPLIT! – the coolest submission, and the optimum submission.
Get drafting those ideas!
There are some interesting designs in here. Its nice
to see the creativity and imagination. If stealth is
a concern, Id recommend that, as much as possible,
intersections between surfaces, such as the
intersection between wings and body, be obtuse angles,
that is, greater than 90 degrees.
As far as major manufactures are concerned, one of the
most imaginative designs is this one from Boeing.
www.boeing.com...
And lets not forget whats probably the first stealth
aircraft with RAM technology. This one's a true
genius design.
www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org...
When designing an aircraft, the first step is always
setting performance goals. Assuming only subsonic
aircraft (allows a lighter structure and more
payload), I am surprised no one has suggested a flying
wing. Flying wings have enormous capacity, are
naturally strong and light, are naturally stealthy,
and have predictable flight characteristics. The only
drawback would be poor maneuverability, but at just
$2M/pop, the emphasis would be on capacity for
payload, sensors and computers rather than
dog-fighting. You could even avoid the complexity of
retracting landing gear and complex control surfaces
by using a powered parachute type setup for landings
and an underbody airbag. For take-off it could either
be shot in the air or tossed out of a large airplane.
)
