European Joint Tiltrotor proposals

Antonio

Antonio

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AW&ST January 24,2000 by Michael A. Taverna

Eurocopter/Westland/Agusta Tiltrotor in the 10 ton 20-25 passenger class (significantly larger than the Bell Agusta 609). A flying demonstrator was planned to be flying by 2005-2006.

The European Joint Tiltrotor will benefit from earlier design efforts:

Eurocopter Eurotilt (derived from earlier Eurofar design)

Agusta Erica

Compound helicopter devised by GKN Westland ( I have no pics from it altough I have the following references if anybody can help; AW&ST July 12, 1999 p.23 and Feb 22.1999, p.47)
 

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unlike that TW68, the Eurofar's wing seem to be not deflected for VTOL
 

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Does Europe still have a Tilt Rotor project, beyond the BA-609?
 
AFAIK, no ! There was the 2GETHER proposal, as a joint development by Eurocopter
and Agusta, the name meaning "2nd Generation European Tilting Highly Efficient Rotorcraft",
but this project ws axed to a lack of sufficient funding.
 
Before they cancalled Eurofar, the had done some work on a demonstrator - never seen line drawings for it, but have this photo
 

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Interesting detail of EUROFAR was, that the nacelles were only partially
tiltable, contrary to most other tilt rotors.
 

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I've said this over at What-If but I'll be darned if that Erica doesn't just look like an Mu-2 with tilt-rotors (but then again the Mu-2 was darn aerodynamic)
 
Talk to Professor Gareth Padfield at Liverpool University or visit the Flight Sciences dept web there

http://pcwww.liv.ac.uk/eweb/fst/act-tilt/FST_ACT-TILT.htm
 
By the way, does anynone happen to know what >>Erica<< stands for? Is it some sort of abbreviation? European....?? I haven´t got the faintest idea what it could mean.
 
That was quick, thanks.
Nevertheless, weird name I think. ;D
 
Nah, I think it's a perfect name! Everyone knows all aircraft are female by default and if you're gonna slap on some nose art right there half the job's already done for you ;)
 
Intersting page about construction of a wind tunnel model of the erica tilt-rotor. The pdf mentioned at the bottom of the page is worth down loading.

http://www.crptechnology.com/sito/en/1-8-scale-wind-tunnel-model-of-the-european-tiltrotor.html

Colin
 
European Future Advanced Rotorcraft (EUROFAR)

Specifications for the previously shown drawing of EUROFAR.

General Characteristics

Type: Twin-turboshaft tilt-rotor transport

Design features: High carbonfibre wing with partially tilting nacelles (stationary engines); T-tail; circular pressurized fuselage with APU; tricycle landing gear.

Flying controls: Quadraplex fly-by-wire electronic controls.

Power plant: Two 3,200 kW (4,290 shp) max continuous power class turboshafts (modified PW300 foreseen).

Accommodation: 30 passengers, three-abreast seating with overhead stowage, toilet, galley.

Dimensions (external)
Wing span between rotor centres: 14.66 m (48 ft 1.25 in)
Rotor diameter, each: 11.21 m (26 ft 9.25 in)
Length overall: 20.41 m (66 ft 11.5 in)
Fuselage lenghth: 19.40 m (63 ft 7.75 in)
Diameter: 2.48 m (8 ft 1.5 in)
Height overall: 6.645 m (21 ft 9.5 in)

Dimensions (internal)
Max height in aisle: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Max width a shoulder level seated 2.23m (7 ft 3.75 in)
Width of aisle: 0.46 m (1 ft 6 in)
Seat width between armrests: 0.43 m (1 ft 5 in)
Seat pitch: 0/83 m (2 ft 8.75 in)
Height at seat level: 1.40 to 1.50 m (4 ft 7 in to 4 ft 11 in)

Weights and loadings
Max vertical T-O weight (Category A): 13,650 kg (30,093 lb)
Power/weight ration (nominal): 2.13 kg/kW (6.57 lb/shp)

Performance
Max level speed: 334 knots (620 km/h; 385 mph)
Cruising speed: 302-313 knots (560-580 km/h; 348-360 mph)
Cruising altitude: 7,500 m (24,600 ft)
Hovering ceiling OGE, ISA at max VTO weight: 3,000 m (9,840 ft)
Range with 30 passengers, IFR reserves: 782 nm (1,450 km; 900 miles)

Source: Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1992-93 edited by Mark Lambert
 
Eurocopter EUROTILT

10 metric ton (22,000 lb) class, seating 12 to 19 passengers, with a range of 750 nm (1400 km) at
more than 330 kt (610 km/hr)
 

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AgustaWestland ERICA

General Characteristcs

Engines: 2 x P&WC PW127E turboshaft
Power: 2x 2,400 shp (2x 1800 kW)
Passengers (VTOL): 19 + 2 crew
Passengers (STOL): 22 + 2 crew
Wingspan: 46 ft (14 m)
Length: 50 ft (15.2 m)
Height: 19.7 ft (6 m)
Fuselage Diameter: 9 ft (2.7 m)
Proprotor Diameter: 24 ft (7.4 m)
Max VTOL Useful Load: 4,189 lb (1,900 kg)
Max STOL Useful Load: 4,840 lb (2,200 kg)
VTOL Gross Weight: 22,000 lb (10,000 kg)
STOL Gross Weight: 24,200 lb (11,000 kg)
Empty Weight: 14,300 lb (6,500 kg)
Fuel Weight (VTOL): 3080 lb (1,400 kg)
Fuel Weight (STOL): 4,400 lb (2,000 kg)
Range: 650 nm (1,200 km)
Cruise altitude: 24,600 ft (7,500 m)
Vmax (at cruise): 350 kt (650 km/h)

Rendering of AugustaWestland ERICA tilt-rotor in transition.

Line drawing of AugustaWestland ERICA
 

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Note that the project moved from the tilting half-nacelles to the tilting half-wing.

NICETRIP (Novel Innovative Competitive Effective Tilt Rotor Integrated Project) http://nicetrip.onera.fr/
 

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In the same way we have the Eurofar project
(1982-85)
 

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Wind tunnel model of AugustaWestland ERICA (Enhanced Rotor Craft Innovative Achievement) in 1/8th scale.

Artist's impression of transition from airplane mode to hover mode.


Source:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog%3Aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3A1684ac12-21e1-4674-8520-8a4dc7e6bdc7&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest
 

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very interesting contribution!

Thanks a lot Hesham.
 
It's probably to save head space into the fuselage.
Traversing wing spars (cantilever) reduces usually the available height inside the cabin at the wing/fuselage junction.
Notice that most modern business jets have the wing similarly mounted beneath the fuselage.
 
From Aviation magazine 1987.
 

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From Aviationa magazine 1988.
 

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From Lotnictwo 1991-11/12,

who can collect the two pieces ?.
 

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