As it's described as an 'artist's concept', the picture may be everything on that particular stopped-rotor concept. Since it features the other wonder-tech of 1980s aeronautics, the forward-swept wing, an artist's (or marketeer's) fancy seems quite likely to me.Don't think I've ever seen anything on the drawing in the lower left hand corner.
That would be a tempting variant to model, along with the SV-22B. I've been sorely tempted to also do one in US Forest Service markings as a fire bomber using a mini-MAFSS and taking on water from a lake in hover mode.From; A history of U.S. Coast Guard aviation.
Then there is this Bell pipe dream.
Current HMX-1 birds are primarily cargo haulers with passenger capacity rather than executive transporters. There were proposals for a "White Top" VM-22B but there were some drawbacks that didn't see it compete (engine exhaust impingement on the ground is more problematic for VIP aircraft, as one concern). ISTR that the back ramp was replaced by a stairway.Btw attended International Military Helicopter conference last week and came across the Bell booth. They Are advertising VIP configuration for V-22 But nothing like HMX-1 birds
Cheers.
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I am happy to see that the system is still being worked. I had thought it not is use after the initial test.
Its been in the fleet since at least 2016, saw it in Iraq at the time.I am happy to see that the system is still being worked. I had thought it not is use after the initial test.
Interesting! Goes against the common perception that military folks want guns, guns, and more guns.Its been in the fleet since at least 2016, saw it in Iraq at the time.I am happy to see that the system is still being worked. I had thought it not is use after the initial test.
But its mostly left out cause its heavy and cumbersome. So they often drop the gun but keep the sight since that thing is too useful.
Heard many pilots say that all military copters need a similar optic set up if they dont have one.
It does, though, IIRC, the armed ATTR testbed had a different one fitted that included designation capacity. I suspect that, as yasotay says, weight and center of gravity concerns, as well as structural loads from the gun lead to that being delayed and then the necessary real estate for it in the fuselage got taken by other systems.I thought the MV-22 had a FLIR turret as standard? At some point a setup with a GAU-19 under the nose was envisioned, does anyone here know why was that idea abandoned?
Why? Because that thread is heavily populated by the Secret Project Forums favorite, most beloved and least controversial poster?For some reason, I was reminded of another thread...
Often, though not always. The early JVX had a more conventional aircraft shape to the cockpit; it got squarer as it developed as that allowed the pilot better vision, kinda important for a VTOL. Almost surprised it didn't end up with a bug-eyed OV-1 style cockpit. Then fuel tanks get bigger, it starts sprouting antenna and ECM lumps and flare dispensers and beer volcanoes and stripper factories...Seems more elegant than the finished product. But then, isn't that always the case?
Well, here is to hoping that Leonardo has more success with commercial tilt rotor aircraft.From Aviation magazine 1988.
It would appear that 700,000 hours and over a decade of combat operations later, a tilt-rotor ...disliker, feels vindicated.End of V-22 Production Signals Failure of Pentagon's Wishful Thinking
The V-22 tiltrotor production line is slated to shut down in 2026, given the lack of Pentagon orders for more of them in next year’s budget. Its fate ...www.defense-aerospace.com
Arbitary metric, 700,000 hrs/464 V-22 equals an average of only ~1,500 flight hrs per aircraft to date, for a $56 billion program cost plus its O&M costs and at first glance it doesn't appear a great return for the treasure heaped on it.It would appear that 700,000 hours and over a decade of combat operations later, a tilt-rotor ...disliker, feels vindicated.End of V-22 Production Signals Failure of Pentagon's Wishful Thinking
The V-22 tiltrotor production line is slated to shut down in 2026, given the lack of Pentagon orders for more of them in next year’s budget. Its fate ...www.defense-aerospace.com