Modus disc-rotor VTOL project

turboshaft said:

Groen (teamed with Georgia Tech) was one of the non-selected bidders for the CDA phase (along with Carter and Modus)

Click to expand...

The mention of Modus sent me to my "Looney" files, and I found this postcard from the early 1990s. On the back are two web addresses. Not surprisingly, the www.verticraft.com website does not work, but www.yoshine.com still does.

Cammnut,

Some more info on the latest iteration of the 'blue sky' Modus design was given at AHS63. The new concept - being fronted by U.S. based Modus Verticraft Inc. - employs the F-35B's F135 propulsion system (complete with drive shaft and 3BN) with GE90 fan blades used for the switchblade-esque turbofanrotor. 600 kts
'targeted.'

sorry - clicked too soon

I tracked down Modus - and here is the design Turboshaft refers to, presented at the American Helicopter Society's Forum 63 earlier this year.

It has a hub/wing that acts as a fixed circular wing in forward flight, then unlocks, rotates and deploys short fan blades to act as a rotor for vertical flight. The three-bearing swivel nozzle concept from the Joint Strike Fighter is used for propulsion in forward flight and anti-torque in the hover.

Cam- Unless I have missed something, is there anyone taking this seriously? I have yet to see anything better than Power Point pictures and glowing techno-gibberish. At least the Chinese team working this had good pictures and models...

No-one that I know of, although Modus says it hopes to get an AFRL contract to windtunnel test the rotor-to-wing transition. We will see...

Hey, if the DuPont DP-2 can get $63 million in US taxpayers money, who knows?

Cam! Buddy! I got an idea! Know any Congressmen? ;D