V-44

Twice A V-22 The FTR will provide a capability that does not exist anywhere in the world today--and perhaps will replace the helicopter for military operations. The concept for the aerial assault platform comes from Bell Helicopter Textron. Having teamed with Boeing on the twin-engine V-22 Osprey tiltrotor program, Bell has developed the concept for a larger fuselage. Envisioned to be about the size of a stretched C-130 Hercules, the FTR would feature two V-22-type wings, each having an engine and a combination rotor-propeller mounted at the outboard tips. The exact configuration has yet to be determined. Some versions show a tailless aircraft, others have an airframe more along the lines of a C-130.

There is no disagreement about the interior. The V-44 is designed to be a heavy hauler. "Imagine this aircraft with a cabin large enough to internally carry an 8 x 8 x 40-ft. container, several helicopters, all types of high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, light armored vehicles, eight standard loading pallets, or 70 [medivac] litters," reads an industry analysis describing the concept. "Imagine an aircraft that could transport 80 to 100 troops or 10 to 20 tons of equipment and supplies at speeds greater than 300 mph over distances from 1000 to 2000 miles and then safely land vertically, without the need for runways or airports."

The FTR concept can be traced back as far as the early 1960s when the Curtiss-Wright Corp. built the X-19, a small quad-rotor testbed. After 50 successful test flights, it was destroyed in an accident. A second X-19 was scrapped. Enthusiasm for the FTR, however, is based on the technical success of the V-22 Osprey. These aircraft can be configured to carry 24 combat troops or up to 20,000 pounds of internal or external cargo at twice the speed of a helicopter. U.S. procurement plans call for 360 Marine Corps MV-22 aircraft and 50 U.S. Air Force CV-22 aircraft. Using parts common with the Marine MV-22, the Air Force CV-22 modification includes the addition of internal-wing fuel tanks and terrain-avoidance and terrain-following radars. It also has been given an enhanced electronic warfare suite, additional cockpit seating for a flight engineer, an aerial refueling probe and an internally mounted rescue hoist.

More on the V-44

To bad its only coming after 2010.


[Edited on 6-11-2003 by Russian]

i hear the biggest problem with this design is the turbulence from the front props would disturb the air over the back wings way too much durring transition from verticle to horizontal flight. this was a problem with the v-22 but with the turbulence over the tail. im not sure how they fixed it, but i think it still a major problem for the v-44 designs.

Originally posted by kdub
i hear the biggest problem with this design is the turbulence

Yep.And what about the radar signature.

I bet this plane will flash to any radar. Even if it's an old one from the fifties era.

thats an old article you have there Russian, the V-44 has been cancelled and the ATT(advanced theater transport) has taken its place.


Boeing's ATT
ATT

The wake in the air created by the first set of rotors will make the second set hard to function, even if they are set apart the wing will still vibrate alot, its kinda pointless to have this too, its going to be incredibly loud and has the equivalent of Colonel in a republican convention for stealth.

Originally posted by Nerdling
The wake in the air created by the first set of rotors will make the second set hard to function, even if they are set apart the wing will still vibrate alot, its kinda pointless to have this too, its going to be incredibly loud and has the equivalent of Colonel in a republican convention for stealth.

LOL
nice one m8