Piasecki X-49

Infobox Aircraft
name= X-49 "Speedhawk"


caption= X-49A Speedhawk VTDP Technology Demonstrator in flight
type = Experimental high-speed compound helicopter
manufacturer = Sikorsky (original airframe) Piasecki Aircraft (modifications and testing)
designer=
first flight = June 29 2007
introduced =
retired=
status = Under development
primary user= United States Army
more users =
produced =
number built = 1 prototype
unit cost =
developed from = SH-60 Seahawk
variants with their own articles =

The Piasecki X-49A is a four-bladed, twin-engined, experimental compound helicopter under development by Piasecki Aircraft. Also referred to as "Speedhawk", the X-49 is based on the airframe of a Sikorsky YSH-60F Seahawk, but utilizes Piasecki's proprietary vectored thrust ducted propeller (VTDP) design and includes the addition of lifting wings. The concept of the experimental program is to apply the VTDP technology to a production military helicopter to determine any benefit gained in performance and increases in useful load.

Development

The U.S. Navy-sponsored project worth US$26.1 million consists of a Sikorsky YSH-60F helicopter modified by Piasecki as a testbed to validate the "Vectored Thrust Ducted Propeller" (VTDP) system. One YSH-60F was converted to test the feasibility of VTDP under an advanced technology demonstration program. The YSH-60F is powered by two General Electric T700-GE-701C engines.

The demonstration contract was awarded in October 2000 by the Naval Air Systems Command to Piasecki Aircraft. Piasecki installed a lifting wing with flaperons and a vectored-thrust ducted propeller (VTDP) to a U.S. Navy Sikorsky YSH-60F.

The compound helicopter technology added to the YSH-60F was first demonstrated in trials of the Piasecki 16H-1 and 16H-1A in the early 1960s, when the helicopters were flown at speeds up to 225 mph (360 km/h). The success of the Pathfinder inspired others to experiment with compounding, resulting in programs such as the AH-56 Cheyenne.

In May 2003, the YSH-60F/VTDP demonstrator was redesignated the "X-49A"'. [ [http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/412015-L(addendum).html DOD 4120.15-L - Addendum on Designation-Systems.Net] ] During 2004, the X-49A VTDP program was transitioned from the US Navy to the US Army.cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/01/03/203890/funding-may-block-x-49-progress.html |title=Funding may block X-49 progress |accessdate=2007-07-03 |author=Graham Warwick |date=2006-01-03 |work= |publisher=FlightGlobal.com ]

Design

The X-49A flight demonstrator is being developed with funding from the US Army's Aviation Applied Technology Division to demonstrate the ability to increase the speed of existing helicopters to 200 kt (360 km/h) or more.cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/03/215329/picture-piasecki-flies-x-49a-speedhawk-compound-helicopter.html |title=Piasecki flies X-49A SpeedHawk compound helicopter |accessdate=2007-07-03 |author=Graham Warwick |date=2007-07-03 |work= |publisher=FlightGlobal.com ] The flight demonstrator has been updated with a lifting wing taken from an Aerostar FJ-100 business jet. A ring tail has been added and the helicopter drive train modified to accommodate VTDP. Piasecki conducted integrated tests of the modified drive train at the Navy's helicopter transmission test facility.

The cockpit controls are modified with the addition of a manual prop pitch override on the collective for the ring tail. This is the only visible change to the aircraft's existing mechanical controls in the cockpit. The other controls needed to operate the compound helicopter's systems are integrated into the aircraft's existing mechanical controls to reduce pilot workload. The weight added to the X-49A demonstrator aircraft is estimated at about 1,600 lb (725 kg).

Operational history

The X-49A made its first flight on June 29 2007 [ [http://www.piasecki.com/pdfs/X-49APR062807.pdf "Piasecki Achieves First Flight of the X-49A VTDP Compound Helicopter Technology Demonstrator"] , Piasecki Aircraft, June 29, 2007.] for 15 minutes at Boeing’s Wilmington, Delaware test center. [http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/military/attack/14493.html "Rotorcraft Report: Piasecki SpeedHawk Starts Flight Tests"] , Rotor & Wing Magazine, August 1, 2007.] This flight included hovering, pedal turns, and slow forwards and sideways flight using the VTDP for anti-torque, directional and trim control. The X-49A has completed its initial testing phase, and is continuing with further testing of the technology.Fact|date=July 2008 Since then, it has flown over 69 flight events with more than 80 total hours logged.Fact|date=July 2008

Operators

;USA
* United States Army

pecifications

X-49A

*Crew: Two Fact|date=July 2008
*Powerplant: Two General Electric T700-GE-701C engines

H-60B (for comparison)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directorycite book |last=Taylor|first=M J H (editor) | title = Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition | year = 1999 | publisher = Brassey's | isbn = 1 85753 245 7 ]

crew=3
capacity=8 passengers or slung load of 6,000 lb or internal load of 4,100 lb for -B, -F and -H models and 11 passengers or slung load of 9,000 lb for -S
length main= 64 ft 10 in
length alt= 19.76 m
length more= (rotors turning)
span main= 53 ft 8 in
span alt= 16.36 m
height main= 17 ft 2 in
height alt= 5.23 m
area main= 2,262 ft²
area alt= 210 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main=13,648 lb
empty weight alt= 6,190 kg
loaded weight main= 20,110 lb
loaded weight alt= 9,575 kg
loaded weight more= (ASW mission)
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 21,884 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 9,927 kg
more general=
engine (jet)=
type of jet=
number of jets=
thrust main=
thrust alt=
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=
engine (prop)=General Electric T700-GE-401C
type of prop=turboshaft
number of props=2
power main= 1,620 hp
power alt= 1,208 kW
power more= continuous
power original=
max speed main= 145 knots
max speed alt= 167 mph, 268 km/h
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 380 nmi
range alt= 437 mi, 704 km
ceiling main= 19,000 ft
ceiling alt= 5,790 m
climb rate main= 700 ft/min
climb rate alt= 3.6 m/s
loading main= lb/ft²
loading alt= kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* SH-60 Seahawk
similar aircraft=
* Piasecki 16H
* Sikorsky X2
* AH-56 Cheyenne
lists=
* List of helicopters
see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jawa/jawa1388.html Jane's All The World's Aircraft - X-49A]
* [http://avia.russian.ee/helicopters_eng/piasecki_h-60.php Piasecki H-60/VTDP]
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/05/30/214315/high-speed-helicopter-set-for-first-flight-in-june.html "High Speed Helicopter set for first flight in June" article on FlightGlobal.com]
* [http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/issue/cover/17380.html Rotor and Wing Cover Story Dec 2007]
* [http://www.vtol.org/vertiflite/ Vertiflight Cover Story Winter 2007]
* [http://www.ukintpress.com/mag_aerospacetesting.htm Aerospace Testing International Dec 2007]
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/01/11/220780/boeing-eyes-x-49a-technology-for-apache-attack-helicopter.html Boeing Eyes X-49A Technology for Apache Attack Helicopter]
* [http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/video/?fr_story=FRdamp281809&rf=bm Pushing helicopters faster - X-49A - Aviation Week Video]