GUFA Posted October 21, 2022 Posted October 21, 2022 So I've known of this development since the mid 90s. I did actually think that AW, now known as Leonardo had quietly dropped this innovative design. But that appears to be have been the wrong assumption. So far Bristow Group a large private helicopter company is the first customer and the UAE's Joint Aviation Command seems to be looking into developing the AW 609 for SAR. The article also discusses the FVL initiative and one of its competitors the Bell V-280 Valor. So having been quite interested in tilt rotors for quite some time, I'm thinking maybe Leonardo has missed the boat, Bell's V-280 if chosen by the US Army will bring 2nd generation Tilt Rotor technology to a much bigger user. that in turn will possibly kill interest in the first gen AW 609. Valor 2nd gen tech is hopefully safer and cheaper than what the AW 609 uses (MV 22 Osprey). But time will tell IO guess. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/first-production-aw609-tiltrotor-finally-flies-after-decades-of-development
Dragon1-1 Posted October 21, 2022 Posted October 21, 2022 It should be noted that AW-609 is a civilian aircraft, and it wasn't based on the MV-22. It was a parallel design to develop the tech for civilian applications (military ones as well, but this appears to be secondary). The Valor is, so far, a purely military project, though a civilian version is likely possible. 1
GUFA Posted October 22, 2022 Author Posted October 22, 2022 It is very much MV-22 tech as the engines rotating up, to enable vertical takeoff is the same. It also shares the same emergency propulsion with both rotors being connected with a long shaft, that in the event of a single engine failure. One engine can power both rotors. The gen 2 tilt-rotor tech does away with the need to rotate the engines, as well as the propeller shaft that connects the rotors on the gen 1 ( MV-22,AW-609) tilt-rotors.
Dragon1-1 Posted October 22, 2022 Posted October 22, 2022 That's not exactly how it works. Just because it does rotor tilt or that way doesn't make it in any way related to the MV-22. It also doesn't mean the decision to rotate the whole engine or just the propeller had anything to do with "generations". It's just different ways of doing the same thing. 1
SUBS17 Posted October 23, 2022 Posted October 23, 2022 On 10/22/2022 at 2:24 AM, Dragon1-1 said: It should be noted that AW-609 is a civilian aircraft, and it wasn't based on the MV-22. It was a parallel design to develop the tech for civilian applications (military ones as well, but this appears to be secondary). The Valor is, so far, a purely military project, though a civilian version is likely possible. AW609 is not a parallel project it is a different Companies Project to Boeing. Boeing will no doubt someday do a Civilian version of the Osprey as the aircraft has a lot of potential. Looks like a few additions for the AW 609 might be possible to make it simpler and safer to fly. The Osprey has some awesome technology added to it which makes it safer to operate. The early version is very difficult to fly by using the Propeller Pitch and Throttle Controls. The latest version is more agile and is easier to land. It would be noticeable on DCS if both versions were modelled. FLY BY WIRE and the other stuff makes it much safer to operate. [sIGPIC] [/sIGPIC]
SUBS17 Posted October 23, 2022 Posted October 23, 2022 On 10/22/2022 at 1:01 PM, GUFA said: It is very much MV-22 tech as the engines rotating up, to enable vertical takeoff is the same. It also shares the same emergency propulsion with both rotors being connected with a long shaft, that in the event of a single engine failure. One engine can power both rotors. The gen 2 tilt-rotor tech does away with the need to rotate the engines, as well as the propeller shaft that connects the rotors on the gen 1 ( MV-22,AW-609) tilt-rotors. That would be an EMERGENCY HYDRALIC BACKUP LINE CONNECTED TO THE APU for the ENGINE PODS. There is new technology which adds ROTATING ACTUATORS which would give even more power to the rotors which might be added someday. Those would work even with the engines shut down. There is also AUTO PILOT and AUTO LAND, AUTO TAKE OFF, AUTO TRANSITION, AUTO CRUISE and AUTO HOVER. 1 [sIGPIC] [/sIGPIC]
GUFA Posted November 10, 2022 Author Posted November 10, 2022 On 10/22/2022 at 9:06 PM, Dragon1-1 said: That's not exactly how it works. Just because it does rotor tilt or that way doesn't make it in any way related to the MV-22 If you read the article you would have noted that Bell was a partner on the AW-609 up until they decided to develop the V-280. And the fact is that the Osprey and the AW-609 are based off of the same 70s tech. They both rotate the whole propulsion unit eg. engine + rotor, to VTOL They only differ in the 'role' specific 'T' tail on the AW-609. On 10/24/2022 at 9:35 AM, SUBS17 said: That would be an EMERGENCY HYDRALIC BACKUP LINE CONNECTED TO THE APU for the ENGINE PODS. No I'm talking about the Cross-shaft that I've highlighted. \ This picture is the research bird from the 70s. Can you tell me how it differs from either the MV-22 or the AW-609 in it Propulsion & VTOL profiles? Seeing the AW-609 is designed to cater to the business sector and they're wish to fly 'office to office', as such doesn't spend any significant time in VTOL mode. The V-280 on the other hand Has a 'Fixed' engine that doesn't rotate. Instead it uses a 'novel' gearbox'/actuator' that does the 'repositioning' of the Rotor From VTOL to Forward flight mode. A quick vid on how it works. On 10/24/2022 at 9:30 AM, SUBS17 said: Boeing will no doubt someday do a Civilian version of the Osprey Not if Bell/Leonardo beats them to it.
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