Mighty aerospace mammoth Boeing has made a late entry in the contest to supply the US Marines with robot helicopter supply skyhooks, able to move
stuff in and out of isolated forward bases in Afghanistan without input from human operators.
The Marines' requirements were for an unmanned, VTOL aircraft able to hover with underslung loads at high altitudes - essential in the Hindu Kush -
and demonstrate the potential to shift ten tons of supplies per aircraft across 150 miles in 24 hours (in as many trips as required).
Boeing says that the A160T was able to move only 2,500lb of cargo (between bases 75 nautical miles apart) in its allotted two round trips across a
proving ground in Utah. The K-MAX, during its test runs last month, managed 3,000lb.
Overall, though, the extra lifting ability of the K-MAX would seem to mean a win for Boeing's rivals. The K-MAX has other advantages, too - it has a
nifty four-hook carousel, allowing the copter to drop off more than one load at preprogrammed locations before returning to home base. Furthermore, as
a conversion from a manned design, it could presumably operate with a pilot aboard on occasion - useful for legal reasons in civil-controlled
airspace.
Above photo is of the Lockheed K-Max
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[edit on 17-3-2010 by DaddyBare]
