Bell High Speed VTOL (HSVTOL)

Assuming Bell can make this technology translate to useable functionality, I would not be surprised to see not only new platforms proposals but potentially a retrofit to existing platforms.
 
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Systems and methods for aerial aircraft resupply​

Abstract​

An aerial resupply system (ARS) including a supply aircraft. The supply aircraft includes at least one of supply fuel, an ordinance, and data. The supply aircraft also includes a retractable boom system (RBS) configured for selective stowage within a fuselage of the supply aircraft and configured to supply at least one of supply fuel, the ordinance, and data to a location external to the fuselage.
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US20210139161A1

...... I think I know both of you.

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Bell has released new renderings.
Links:
www.twz.com

Revised Fold-Away Rotor Aircraft Concepts Emerge From Special Operations X-Plane Program

Fast-flying runway-independent aircraft with folding rotors, crewed and uncrewed, could perform more than just special operations missions.
www.twz.com www.twz.com
theaviationist.com

Bell Releases First Image of X-Plane Model Used in Wind Tunnel Testing for DARPA SPRINT Program

The wind tunnel testing was carried out to validate the company's Stop/Fold Jet Transition capability. Bell has completed wind tunnel testing of its
theaviationist.com theaviationist.com
 

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I suspect that the email lines between Quantico VA and Arlington TX are getting a work out.
 

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raptor82 said:
No way!

US12202600B1 - High-speed tiltrotor aircraft having a variable-sweep wing - Google Patents

A variable-sweep wing for a tiltrotor aircraft includes a fuselage link coupled to the fuselage and a pylon link coupled to a pylon. A wing airframe has a root end pivotably coupled to the fuselage link and a tip end pivotably coupled to the pylon link. A driveshaft is coupled between the...
patents.google.com
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I can already hear the screams of the maintenance guys.
 
raptor82 said:
No way!

US12202600B1 - High-speed tiltrotor aircraft having a variable-sweep wing - Google Patents

A variable-sweep wing for a tiltrotor aircraft includes a fuselage link coupled to the fuselage and a pylon link coupled to a pylon. A wing airframe has a root end pivotably coupled to the fuselage link and a tip end pivotably coupled to the pylon link. A driveshaft is coupled between the...
patents.google.com
Click to expand...
Maybe it would make more sense to focus on how to marry swept wing with tilt rotor without having the whole assembly (wing, cross shafts, cowls etc) essentially articulating. If the issue is thrust offset of the tips to the Cog maybe there is a case for a ducted fan in the nose. With modern multiphase electrification and twin fans in the duct this could hit the required reliability without cross shafting.

P. S. I can't stop myself from hitting send but I can already sense the artillery response incoming
 
Do I am correct that the wing is swept only with the prop rotor shut? IMOHO, there is no difference with an articulated pylon such as the ones already present on an F-111.
 
TomcatViP said:
Do I am correct that the wing is swept only with the prop rotor shut? IMOHO, there is no difference with an articulated pylon such as the ones already present on an F-111.
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Making a major element if the aircraft mass pivot right on the end of the wing tip? I know the F-111 can/could pivot drop tanks and SRAMs but that's something few/none(?) of the other SW aircraft did. All the same fair play they think it's worth a patent. I guess we'll find out when the Chinese fly theirs in 3 years time.
 
yasotay said:
Getting a patent and building something are two different things. Bell Flight likely is just getting the rightsfor the engineer(s) who developed it.
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Quite agree. If all it took was a patent life would be so much simpler. In principle it's patentable and especially for the stopped rotor tech. Makes sense. Arguably the same advantage for electrification of ancillary fans could be made for replacement of the cross shafting with hybrid-electric power transmission. Maybe not so crazy. Before anyone tells me transferring 6000shp by electric drives is impractical, I'd say it's challenging.
 
Why can’t we go back to a taildragger like do28 and work that up to vtol.

All this useless weight is going to hit payload, plus batteries, even for 10 mins of power, is going to be a Tesla sized pack, all unused once you go to horizontal flight. What about the geared fans we were all going to be using from the 90’s?
 
raptor82 said:
No way!

US12202600B1 - High-speed tiltrotor aircraft having a variable-sweep wing - Google Patents

A variable-sweep wing for a tiltrotor aircraft includes a fuselage link coupled to the fuselage and a pylon link coupled to a pylon. A wing airframe has a root end pivotably coupled to the fuselage link and a tip end pivotably coupled to the pylon link. A driveshaft is coupled between the...
patents.google.com
Click to expand...

If you look closely at how the power gets transmitted through the wing via driveshafts on sets of bevel gears, this patent allows wing articulation without disconnection of the drive shafts, as well as maintaining the pylon angle parallel to the fuselage. Tricky part would probably be details of fairing the wing into the fuselage.

A swept wing solves a major issue for HSVTOL transonic flight due to compression drag with straighter wings, which are usually a necessity for conventional tiltrotors to maintain clearance from the rotor flapping range to the wing leading edge. With stopped and folded rotors, you can now sweep them with no clearance requirements

yasotay said:
Getting a patent and building something are two different things. Bell Flight likely is just getting the rights for the engineer(s) who developed it.
Click to expand...

Seems the same engineer is on quite a few related patents. This one uses a 2 bladed rotor to provide clearance for an air intake on the pylon side that feed aft-mounted ducted fans for aux thrust in cruise flight. They appear to use a shiftable rear-facing power takeoff shaft from the proprotor gearbox so they plus the lift engine and drivetrain aren't just dead weight in cruise.

US11325719B2 - Lift engine auxiliary thrust system for stop fold aircraft - Google Patents

Embodiments are directed to a selectable drive system that allows a rotor gearbox to send torque to a proprotor assembly and/or through a multiplier planetary gear set to a pylon-mounted ducted fan thrust unit. The rotor drive system may be a stop-fold system in which rotor blades can be folded...
patents.google.com
 

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Archibald said:
Waaaaait a minute... so the plan is
- to start from something like a V-280 (where the engines don't tilt, just the props)
- folds the props in flight, along the nacelles
- and then go full Learjet / bizjet style ? with turbofans in rear nacelles ?

Daring enough, it may work... or not.

Before quadcopters (and many other drones / aerodynamic heresies / abominations) flew I wouldn't have bet on folding props in flight.

With algorithms to tame instability, however, even cast irons and pigs could fly so maybe it is possible ?

Seriously - I kind of like the idea.
A- Liftoff V-280 style
B- then lit the turbofans, gradually accelerate to 150-200-250 miles per hour: fast enough to fly like a Learjet, except a Learjet with huge wingtip propellers (!)
1- with the props, first, disconnecting from the turbines
2- then windmill / feather the props as if the turbine was dead (as done on piston and tuboprop aircraft for decades and decades)
3- gradually fold the blades along the nacelles
4- fly like a F-89 Scorpion: an aircraft that is proof that having huge wingtip pods is not a major issue.

What is really interesting is
a) we know that propellers-and-jet aircraft flies well since the 1940's at least (Ryan Fireball, B-36H...)
b) we know that helicopter-with-jet can also fly pretty fast (XH-59 flew at 250 mph, Cheyenne, many others)
c) the Bell V-280 is the necessary step beyond the CL-84 (tilt-wing) and V-22 (tilt-turbines) to make this happen: it is kind of "tilt-propellers-
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Welcome to the X-76 Sprint




IMG_6547.jpeg
 
www.helis.com

Bell’s DARPA SPRINT X-Plane Designated X-76

Bell has completed the Critical Design Review for DARPA’s SPRINT program, designated the X-76, advancing development of a high-speed aircraft capable of operating without traditional runways.
www.helis.com www.helis.com

www.twz.com

Bell’s X-76 Fold-Away Rotor Aircraft Is DARPA’s Newest X-Plane

Planned to fly in 2028, the X-76 will explore technologies for fast-flying runway-independent aircraft with folding rotors, crewed and uncrewed. Planned to fly in 2028, the X-76 will explore technologies for fast-flying runway-independent aircraft with folding rotors, crewed and uncrewed.
www.twz.com www.twz.com
 
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