Helicopters

Falx Air unveils new Hybrid Coaxial UAV helicopter design

By David Greig

01:00 May 28, 2009 PDT

UK based Falx Air has just released the final design overview of its Hybrid Electric Coaxial Helicopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Sharing the same eco-friendly and fuel-saving goals as the company's previous hybrid designs - most notably its solar-hybrid tilt rotor aircraft - the new UAV platform is based on the latest fast charge battery systems developed in the USA and could be configured as a logistical transport for light cargo up to 70kg as well as for long endurance surveillance. Read More

The Mosquito single seater lightweight helicopter

By Paul Evans

17:33 May 12, 2009 PDT

The "Muecke" (mosquito) is a single seater lightweight sport helicopter concept that combines low weight and corresponding low flying costs in an easily transportable design which would make this flying machine the ultimate in personal aviation. The mini chopper is intended to be powered by a shaft driven turbine and features counter rotating blades. This means it does not require a tail rotor, instead utilizing movable paddles at the tip of the rotor blades which act like a kind of thrust vectoring of the turbine exhaust to help make course corrections in forward flight as well as in hover. Read More

Robotic helicopter teaches itself how to fly aerobatics

By Paul Evans

23:47 May 7, 2009 PDT

Autonomous helicopters offer a highly maneuverable and versatile platform in scenarios like disaster relief operations, but programming these machines to perform complex aerobatics is a formidable challenge - unless of course they teach themselves. This example developed by Stanford computer scientists does just that, learning to fly by watching other RC helicopters in the air. Not only does this artificial intelligence system produce a spectacular flying exhibition, it's seen as an important demonstration of robotic learning through observation. Read More

The Springtail Exoskeleton Flying Vehicle ideal for the quick getaway

By Paul Evans

14:47 May 3, 2009 PDT

Last week we reported on the two-seater Hummel helicopter concept and mentioned that it looked very similar to the SoloTrek XFV (Exo-skeletal Flying Vehicle) backpack helicopter flown in the movie Agent Cody Banks. We haven't had a close look at this Exoskeleton Flying Vehicle but, although the design was first tested in 2003, it's still a unique form of transport that we hope to see more of in the future. Read More

Two-seater Hummel helicopter concept folds-up for easy storage

By Paul Evans

22:36 April 30, 2009 PDT

Looking something like a cross between the SoloTrek XFV backpack helicopter flown in the movie Agent Cody Banks and the Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor, the Hummel is a two passenger lightweight helicopter concept that features a fully enclosed cabin and tandem ducted rotors which offer the same stability as a conventional helicopter with a tail rotor. The extra twist - when you're done flying it folds into a box shape for easy storage and transportation. Read More

Autonomous Rotorcraft Sniper System packs .338-caliber rifle controlled by Xbox 360 pad

By Paul Evans

00:43 April 29, 2009 PDT

Late last year reports surfaced of a modified radio controlled helicopter equipped with a .45 caliber hand gun, including a video of the RC copter doing target practice with live ammunition (see below). It seems the US Army have been thinking along the same lines, except this version carries a .338 caliber sniper rifle. Read More

The World's first flying hotel - The Hotelicopter

By Paul Evans

18:16 March 29, 2009 PDT

The double deck Airbus A380 has set new high standards for luxury accommodation in the air but, unless you can afford to deck out your own A380 as a private jet, the Hotelicopter concept aims to top this airborne opulence by equipping a four story converted heavy lift aircraft with 18 luxuriously-appointed room hotels. Modeled on the Soviet Mil V-12, the largest helicopter ever built, of which only two prototypes were built in the 1960s, the Hotelicopter company would like us to believe they purchased one of these prototypes in 2004 with the Hotelicopter now ready for its maiden flight in June 26th. We're not sure that we do, but we like the concept. Read More

NASA investigating the SMART shape changing helicopter rotor

By David Greig

20:04 March 26, 2009 PDT

Can you imagine a world full of large, relatively quiet rotorcraft making short hops between cities such as New York and Washington, carrying as many as 100 passengers at a time in comfort and safety? This, amongst other technological improvements, would require helicopters with greatly improved rotor blade efficiency, allowing them to travel much quieter, smoother and further with the same amount of fuel. NASA is currently conducting research in their wind tunnels on the SMART rotor hub, which has rotor blades made with shape-changing materials that could one day make this scenario a reality. Read More

Airborne microbots to create wi-fi zones in disaster situations

By Kyle Sherer

17:24 March 9, 2009 PDT

Autonomous flying quadcopter robots, built from off-the-shelf parts in €300 kits (US$380) could be used to establish radio networks for phones and wireless Internet in disaster zones. Under development by researchers at the Ilmenau University of Technology, the bots are equipped with satellite navigation, GPS, and VIA Pico-ITX hardware. Read More

Challis Heliplane: simple, cheap and twice as fast as a normal helicopter

By Loz Blain

21:29 January 5, 2009 PST

Conventional helicopters are incredibly useful vehicles in many short-range scenarios - but their asymmetrical aerodynamics enforce a fairly low terminal speed limit of around 150mph, making them less than ideal for longer-range missions. Tilt-rotor aircraft like the Falx and Osprey, and coaxial 'copters like the Sikorsky X2 are tackling the problem from different angles, but both result in complicated and expensive solutions - which is what makes the new Challis Heliplane concept quite remarkable. Still in early stages, the Challis uses a very simple design to balance the lift forces of a helicopter and bring top speeds of over 300mph into reach. And wait 'til you see this thing accelerate! Read More

Coaxial Rotor System: the future of helicopter design?

By Darren Quick

03:03 October 28, 2008 PDT

Helicopters featuring coaxial rotor designs are not exactly new. The co-axial design of a pair of rotors mounted on the same mast and with the same axis of rotation, but turning in different directions, has been utilized on a number of military helicopters for around half a century, most notably those produced by the Russian Kamov helicopter design bureau. The coaxial design offers a number of advantages over the traditional helicopter designs, which makes it difficult to understand why we haven’t seen co-axial rotor designs taking to the skies for civilian uses. Now Australian based Wieland Helicopter Technologies (WHT) is hoping to change that by designing and manufacturing a range of new coaxial rotor system small format helicopters for commercial markets. Read More

Autonomous unmanned helicopters designed for disaster relief

By Kyle Sherer

04:35 October 16, 2008 PDT

European researchers are developing a squadron of co-operating, unmanned helicopters for use in disaster management, civil security, and filmmaking. In addition to ferrying critical supplies, the helicopters can deploy sensor nodes to gather information and establish a communications network in places where the infrastructure is damaged or absent. Read More

Presidential helicopter achieves new milestone

By Kyle Sherer

00:46 September 24, 2008 PDT

The first operational pilot production aircraft in the VH-71 presidential helicopter program has successfully completed its 40-minute maiden flight. The PP-1 is the first of five VH-71 production aircraft that will be tested during phase one of the US$6.1 billion presidential helicopter replacement program. Read More

Sikorsky’s X2 Demonstrator First Flight

By Mike Hanlon

11:40 August 28, 2008 PDT

August 28, 2008 Three years ago we wrote of Sikorsky’s intention to build a technology demonstrator for its X2 Coaxial helicopter technology, and earlier this year we expanded on the principals of the revolutionary aircraft. Today, we’re pleased to announce “it flies.” Earlier this week, Sikorsky successfully completed the first flight of its X2 Demonstrator, maneuvering the prototype aircraft through hover, forward flight, and a hover turn, in a test flight that lasted approximately 30 minutes. Read More

Milestone for Sikorsky X2 helicopter

By Kyle Sherer

21:34 June 1, 2008 PDT

June 2, 2008 Helicopter development is hampered by the fact that for so long it has been a zero sum game, with designers only able to improve forward speed at the expense of hovering ability and low speed control, and vice versa. This, combined with other inherent design restrictions, has kept the top cruise speed for conventional helicopters at roughly 150—170 knots. Looking to overcome these limitations, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is working on a coaxial design aimed at realizing a cruising speed of 250 knots. The X2 technology demonstrator can hover, land vertically, manoeuvre at low speeds, and transition seamlessly from hovering to forward flight. In the words of Sikorsky’s president, Jeffrey Pino, it could prove to be a real ‘game changer’ for the industry. Read More

Hummingbird achieves 18 hour flight milestone

By Emily Clark

00:04 May 23, 2008 PDT

Gizmag first reported on Boeing’s A160T Hummingbird Unmanned Rotorcraft back in 2005 and again in 2007 when the craft made its first flight. Now the craft has come very close to achieving the original 20 hour flight times envisioned (and unofficially broken a world record for unmanned aerial vehicles along the way) by remaining in the air for 18.7 hours. Read More

Falx to debut hybrid-electric tilt-rotor aircraft with inbuilt solar charging

By Loz Blain

04:21 April 28, 2008 PDT

Tilt-rotor aircraft have been around since the 1950s, offering the vertical take-off, hovering and landing abilities of a helicopter with the range, high flight ceiling, speed and fuel economy of a turboprop aeroplane. Now a new venture from Falx Air Vehicles is planning to push the fuel economy angle even further by using a hybrid-electric motor and inbuilt solar arrays. The company expects its upcoming compact single and double-seater tiltrotor aircraft to use as little as 10 litres of fuel per hour airborne, and the quiet electric operation should see these small, light and manoeuvrable aircraft make solid stealth vehicles for military uses. Though not yet confirmed, we may see a full-size prototype as early as the Farnsworth air show this year, and Falx is aiming to have the craft fully certified by the end of 2009. Read More

"All-environment" visibility solution for helicopters successfully trialled

By Noel McKeegan

06:39 October 8, 2007 PDT

October 8, 2007 Helicopter pilots are often faced with demanding environmental conditions that make navigation difficult and lead to grounding of the aircraft as the only safe option – fog, cloud, rain and snow along with flying over featureless terrain or “brownout” conditions caused by dust all present problems for pilots, particularly when landing. International defence company QinetiQ has developed and successfully flight trialled a solution that integrates a range of imaging technologies into a single system with the aim of expanding the operational envelope of the aircraft under these circumstances. Read More

Headland’s innovative retractable helipads for yachts

By Loz Blain

19:30 September 28, 2007 PDT

Increasingly, yacht buyers are demanding the ability to land a helicopter on deck – but not all yachts have sufficient clear deck space free for a designated helipad. France’s Headland Consulting are solving this issue Transformers-style with a range of very clever retractable landing pads that deploy mechanically to suit a wide range of different yacht and helicopter sizes. Read More

New Chinook unveiled at Fort Campbell

By Noel McKeegan

23:40 August 20, 2007 PDT

August 21, 2007 Aviation history was made at Fort Campbell recently as a newly designed CH-47 Chinook helicopter was officially ushered into operation. Allowing greater capability and Soldier safety, the new $30 million bird was turned over to Company B, 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade. Read More

Boeing's CH-47F Chinook helicopter fielded to first U.S. Army Unit

By Noel McKeegan

00:40 August 16, 2007 PDT

Aug 16, 2007 Boeing has announced that its new CH-47F Chinook helicopter has been certified combat-ready by the U.S. Army and fielded to the first operational unit. Since being first unveiled in mid 2006, the new Chinook has successfully completed 60 rigorous flight test hours including simulated mission scenarios. Read More

Presidential helicopter aces maiden test flight

By Loz Blain

July 9, 2007 The new American presidential helicopter will be the most technologically advanced in the world, offering the most powerful leader on the planet a virtual "oval office in the sky." With ground-breaking safety, efficiency, defense and communications features built in, the Lockheed-Martin VH-71 fleet will have nearly double the cabin space of the current Sikorsky VH-3 Sea Kings that are reaching the end of their service life. The US$6.1 billion project recently completed an impressive maiden flight, up to a ground speed of around 155mph, and "Marine One" is expected to go into an Initial Operational Capacity by late 2009... a few months too late for George Bush to get a ride. Read More