Special Ops Transports

[autoeac]

I'm a frequent viewer of the information on this fine site but to date have little to contribute. I was fascinated by the post

LTV / Scaled Composites SOFTA (Special Ops Forces Transport Aircraft) proposals
These are not computer generated but I'm pretty good with a pencil so I spent an evening doodling up some of the more interesting proposals. I think this project is one of the holy grails of modern aviation and I hope something surfaces eventually from all the work done.

 

[Avimimus]

Beautiful work! Thanks for posting these.

 

[covert_shores]

great doodles dude

 

[xstatic3000]

Great work - these are fantastic!
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jemiba]

Model 212 is a stop-rotor aircraft with intermeshing, staggered rotors, or a kind of scissors wing layout,
à la Messerschmitt P.1109 ?

 

[autoeac]

It's hard to tell just how that 212 model would work—it's completely asymmetrical. Really wild! The flying wing transport model with the capture probe— a-la MC130 combat talon, is interesting in that the platform could be used for a variety of uses.

 

[Jemiba]

It's hard to tell just how that 212 model would work—it's completely asymmetrical. Really wild!

No, no, no ! PR probably would tell you "The intermeshing rotors, already well known and proven by
manufacturers like Flettner and Kaman don't use mechanical, but electronic coupling. Due to the twin
rotors, the effects of the retreating blade losing lift are minimized during transition and for forward
flight variable wing geometry without the added complications of the oblique wing can be provided."

 

[SteveO]

Nice sketches. I feel inspired to do some what if doodles myself.