Boeing moves forward under Army contract to improve helicopter performance

Unless it tilts the rotor or has a pusher prop, the improvement will be minor.
 
Velocity173 said:
Unless it tilts the rotor or has a pusher prop, the improvement will be minor.
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I think this program is geared toward control system improvement to reduce pilot work load. To date there is no getting by the supersonic rotor barrier. Although the Eurocopter X3 looks pretty good.

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Yeah I'm just saying we need to concentrate on bigger programs than simply an 18 million dollar flight control enhancement. I'm anxious to see new airframes being build. Army designs are decades old. I want to see them upgrade to something like an Osprey or more importantly the S-97 Raider...if that ever comes online.
 
Velocity173 said:
Yeah I'm just saying we need to concentrate on bigger programs than simply an 18 million dollar flight control enhancement. I'm anxious to see new airframes being build. Army designs are decades old. I want to see them upgrade to something like an Osprey or more importantly the S-97 Raider...if that ever comes online.
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Agreed, and the NexGen attack helicopter program, in which the X3 is being offered, is moving forward. The Osprey platform is way too big and way too hot to survive in the attack role. There is talk of developing a gunship version which would convert the V-22 into the AV-22 with a package similar to the AC-130, but smaller of course.
 
I love the Osprey but I don't see how they get anything done with their dismal OR rates. I've always looked at it as something that's maybe a little too complex for the harsh environment of war. Plus, while it would be a good CH-47 replacement, it's too big for some of the tighter LZs we would assault into in Black Hawks. That's where I think that S-97 would be a perfect replacement for the 60.
 
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