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Bell Textron has tested the technology of assembling rotors for a hybrid aircraft that combines vertical takeoff and high flight speed.
Bell Textron has successfully tested an aircraft with Stop/Fold technology, which allows the rotors to be folded in level flight. This innovation is part of the US Department of Defense's SPRINT program, which aims to create aircraft that do not require airfields. Thanks to the possibility of vertical take-off and landing, as well as high flight speed, the device is able to perform missions in conditions of limited infrastructure.
Tests in the wind tunnel were a continuation of testing at the test site in New Mexico in 2023. The stability and controllability of the device during the assembly and deployment of the rotors in flight was confirmed. This phase allows for the demonstration of the aircraft's capabilities as part of the DARPA SPRINT program, which focuses on the development of the X-Plane experimental aircraft to test the latest technologies.
Stop/Fold technology combines vertical maneuvers with efficient horizontal flight. During take-off and landing, rotors are used, which fold up in horizontal flight, reducing drag and improving aerodynamics. This is fundamentally different from the V-22 Osprey, where propellers are used in all modes, making the design more bulky.
New modifications of the device include manned and unmanned versions. The autonomous aircraft received improved air intakes and an updated design of the central fuselage, optimized for low altitudes and vertical take-off. The piloted version has a more streamlined shape of the fuselage and rotor nacelles, which improves aerodynamic efficiency.
The main goal of the program is to create aircraft capable of flexible long-range operations without the need for prepared sites. The Stop/Fold configuration opens up new opportunities for combat and humanitarian missions in difficult environments, providing high maneuverability and efficiency.
- Aurora is building a vertical takeoff military aircraft for DARPA: Boeing's subsidiary, Aurora Flight Sciences, is working on a high-speed vertical takeoff and landing military aircraft that can reach speeds of up to 834 km/h and carry up to 454 kg of cargo as part of the DARPA program.
- German engineers have created an electric plane with vertical take-off: German engineers have unveiled a prototype two-seater electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft called Lilium, while also working on a five-seater version for use as a flying taxi.
