Midnight Mike
2008-12-28, 10:46 PM
The Speedhawk was funded by the Army to test the possibility of pushing existing helicopters to reach speeds up to 200 knots (360 kilometers per hour).
But Piasecki is not the only outfit chasing after record helicopter speeds. Challis Heliplane has also forwarded a concept for the "world's fastest" rotorcraft.
The Challis Heliplane would feature a single fixed wing on the retreating blade side of the aircraft of the aircraft that would provide extra lift at high airspeeds.
And Bell Helicopter, maker of the military's fast-flying Osprey tiltrotor, has already debuted a civilian version of the hybrid aircraft, which can go twice as fast as a normal helicopter.
http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/12/26/speedhawk1.jpg
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/12/t ... for-t.html (http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/12/the-quest-for-t.html)
But Piasecki is not the only outfit chasing after record helicopter speeds. Challis Heliplane has also forwarded a concept for the "world's fastest" rotorcraft.
The Challis Heliplane would feature a single fixed wing on the retreating blade side of the aircraft of the aircraft that would provide extra lift at high airspeeds.
And Bell Helicopter, maker of the military's fast-flying Osprey tiltrotor, has already debuted a civilian version of the hybrid aircraft, which can go twice as fast as a normal helicopter.
http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/12/26/speedhawk1.jpg
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/12/t ... for-t.html (http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/12/the-quest-for-t.html)