Piasecki X-49A Speedhawk flight tests

Piasecki video of the X-49A "Speedhawk" - a Sikorsky YSH-60F modified with wing and vectored-thrust ducted propeller for propulsion and control

[@Avilator189]

@FJones9508 As they go faster, they have to slow down the main rotor because the advancing blade would go over mach 1. This reduces the lift from the rotor, so the wings are needed. Retreating blade stall is also an issue, but I think the advancing blade going over the sound barrier is more of an issue because it can cause violent vibrations.

[@angmhalp]

Look up the AH-56 Cheyenne. It had wings and a pusher prop and moved out at 244mph!!! that was in 1967!!

[@The_Osprey]

The tail rotor provides thrust and the wings provide lift unloading the main rotor allowing for 50% faster flight, twice the range, less vibration and more maneuverability according to the Piasecki website.

[@jonthedoors]

Very strange!! It looks tail-heavy on takeoff and landing, but seems to fly pretty well. I'm guessing thrust vectoring to the left couter-acts the torque, like a normal tail rotor...

[@alanlenon]

Awesome! I just love it!

[@kwakaholic]

interesting, thanks for posting.

[@musewolfman]

if you look close, you'll notice that it was the first takeoff. The pilot was probably just trying to get used to a different flight configuration.

[@theworacle]

the idea is to shift lift from the rotor to the wing and thrust from the rotor to the ducted propeller, that way the rotor blades can operate at lower pitch, delaying the stall

[@saxmastergq]

interesting concept.

[@videowatchaccount]

177 knots is 203.6 MPH. Not fast today, but up there for the time.

[@kblackav8or]

I believe the point of this is to eliminate the tail rotor and get more speed - 2 for 1 deal. They haven't come close yet to the potential of the system. I believe the AH-56 had a tail rotor along with it's pusher prop.

[@qunniq]

@FJones9508 yes, designed to compensate lift as blades start stalling

[@discofishing]

@thekaizer666 they've done that in tests. I believe a turbofan engine was put on a UH-1 and it flew pretty dang fast.

[@theworacle]

The wing and thruster offload the rotor, so it can operate at lower angle of attack, but retreating-blade stall still limits the speed to around 200kt

[@theworacle]

They hope to get over 200kt once the clean the helicopter to reduce drag - make the gear retract and put a fairing round the rotor hub. The vectored thrust ducted propeller does the job of the tailrotor using "visor" vanes that defect the propeller thrust

[@osofitz]

intresting design, i wonder how much weight that new tail design adds

[@theworacle]

the big question is how to provide thrust and counteract the torgue from the turning rotor - this one solution

[@SilverHamer]

I guess this one doesn't have any stabilator problems then...interesting concept. I wonder how fast it will go...

[@theworacle]

the wings unload the rotor at high speed, stops the retreating rotor blade from stalling, which is what limits the speed of a helicopter

[@FLCL2014]

yes its at the boeing flight facility there.

[@DJ0JJ]

Ok, this concept is good, but I think that they are working with the wrong airframe. The vectored-thrust ducted propeller (VTDP) in a helicopter is a nice idea. But if you look at the test, when the Speedhawk is at low speeds looks like its tail gives too much weight. So I say that with other mainframe it could be better balanced to the VTDP.

[@Chopper894]

My first thought after viewing this was.."whats the point" my second was "the CG looks too far aft". My third was I get it, extra forward speed but wondering if the limitations posed by retreating blade stall still apply? I think the answer is yes. I wonder how well it flys backwards.

[@theworacle]

That was the original idea - and why the X-49A is a modifired Navy SH-60F prototype - they needed the thruster to help pull the mine countermeasures sled through the water. But the Navy seems to have lost interest and now the Army has taken the lead - looking at it to improve the performance of the Black Hawk...maybe

[@Back7sword]

So this helicopter uses a rudder to counter torque? Love this thing. Looks sharp too. Name change to "Manta".

[@82ndairborne100]

I hope they put this in service!

[@383mazda]

wonder how much lift the wings give it as speed... since helicopters are limited to / don't produce symetrical lift around 180mph

[@Cognetto]

Begining stages of the Swordfish II mono racer?

[@cushancu]

What are you talking about?... The fan on the back is shaft driven, probably by the exact same H-60 drive line. Regardless, H-60s always hover in a nose up attitude. It might lose about 2% of the lift that is produced by the canted H-60 tail rotor which accounts for approximately 400lbs.

[@ezgigs]

This is the answer to the sled they are using on the east coast, am i correct? Because the sled is so damn heavy, the Sierras need more umph.

[@Alexpaths]

i wonder how well this thing auto rotates?

[@LTF85199]

Hey, do you know the new max speed with that setup, also post its original speed if you know; to see the gain.

[@humexavier]

Could you put double magnetic roters under helicopter just small enough to change direction. Magnetic roter is for better oppisite magnetic pull offering better spin gyro control. Are bi-wings coming back.Yes though magnetized on both wings and bottom wing is smaller than top wing for better control and enhanced, at higher distances.

[@dfrss]

that heavy tail give aditional speed for hawk?

[@TakNuke]

For single rotors it's better to use a fenstron plus a pusher propeller.

[@marktimmer2212]

i like

[@urigotliv]

how it doesnt autororate without tail rotor?

[@jbuzzkirk]

Hey sarge? How ummm.......how do I do the tension check?

[@discofishing]

@CessnaAviator317 how can you say that from a youtube video?

[@undertake782]

Isn't there a type of rotor design allowing the helicopter to fly like 300+ besides the tilt rotor? I think it was a British design.

[@euzzi]

was this in new castle, de ?

[@Kelly4370]

Where is the anti-torque rotor?

[@CessnaAviator317]

Anyone notice it's louder also?

[@Kelly4370]

Where is the Anti-torque rotor?

[@archangel670]

damn thats rather clever they ducted the second rotor to focus the force of it not only does it counter the top rotor, but it helps push the craft faster, the wings on it help create lift which means that they could put a crap load of munitions on the wings gun pods or missles the theres several things about this helicopter makes me think this is their answer to our apache gunship the blades at startup look an awful lot like the apache blades the landing gear screams apache lol very clever

[@Gunnanmon]

@AJN912 So is the rest of the helicopter...

[@theworacle]

The navy was interested, to allow the Seahawk to haul the mine-countermeasures sled, but changed it's mind

[@hughsmith7281]

Newark, DE.

[@Simbirsk2130]

That is a cool thing. However it is louder than a usual helicopter, in fact it sounds like a propelled plane combined with the usual sound of the main rotor.

[@NicCipriani]

Updated Blackhawk, not Cheyanne

[@therichardking4242]

It was just a test bed. Sikorsky has moved on to the X2

[@cushancu]

It hovers, hover taxis and lands like every other H-60 airframe I've ever seen. Whether it's a Blackhawk, PaveHawk, JayHawk or SeaHawk.

[@PoisonBill]

But, Will it Blend?

[@biipolaar]

It looks like a modern use of the autogyros technology

[@Loctambule]

I've got the same air fan on my computer

[@fndjfgsdk]

whats wrong with normal helicopters?

[@ihateforigners]

wow it goes the same speed as a regular blackhawk

[@okrajoe]

Looks sleek...

[@atillayilmaz2834]

fon müziğinin ismi lütfen

[@StrEagle]

Gyrocopter?

[@atillayilmaz2834]

name of music, please

[@deimos2k6]

not a good idea for military purposes, but it could find some chanses for commercial flights...

[@atillaylmaz6009]

music please

[@Riplure]

its slower than a regular blackhawk

[@MightySaturn5]

Lockheed?...the RAH-66 Comanche was a joint Sikorsky-Boeing craft.

[@jakem1900]

y would u do this what use is it its no better than a tail roter

[@dankinusmc1]

this and the carter copter are the two designs that will replace the traditional helicopter as we know them today. The question is wich will become a proven technology first.

[@HEINZUNIMOG]

verry simalur to the auto giro concept

[@PingCrack]

You see in the first scene tha the tail its to heavy But the Speed is good...

[@mustang684]

yea

[@monneratrj]

lol that chopper have some "balls" lol its even hard for it to take off lol

[@CreoleCommando]

Today's Helos have reached their peak in performance & range etc, its time to write a new chapter in vertical aviation, I predict the US army will NEVER use such an aircraft in its service nor will the other branches. Anyone ever heard of the Chinook with a similar type of wing to this bird? much better performance than WITHOUT the wing! it was NEVER used.

[@theworacle]

177kt is as fast as they will go until they fit retractable landing gear and a rotor hub fairing - then they will push for 200kt

[@Maphisto86]

@Henky1234 It can fly higher and farther.

[@LTF85199]

Looks like its a bit tail heavy!

[@TyCarp07]

it is a Sikorski

[@charliboy15]

looks awsome but the tails a little to big. that could cause accidents

[@undertake782]

The wings look like they add dead weight, I think they should remove the wings.

[@MightySaturn5]

agreed cush

[@OutramTea]

It's like a flying brick which can move side to side.

[@HeXnoXHax]

All new is well forgotten old. In this case Autogyro or gyroplane

[@DYLAV8R]

@Henky1234 as well as fly faster, as well as bank angles and some other things

[@projekt6_official]

Pretty badass, but looks a little tail heavy.

[@irkiIIer]

im back here after 15 years, saw this video first in 08 when i would watch 2003 iraq war videos i remember watching that patton video with the american flag behind him talking about the war in iraq and how terrorists will cut off the power to the xbox or some shit like that

[@bo64hellfire]

@ivnuzi I'd imagine that the guys who... you know ...get paid...to...well...design shit.. took all that into account...and ...well... what's the word... uh.... engineered it... in such a way to... well... fly... and like... being a helicopter... hover. As for it's practicality and effectiveness... well, you won't know until you build an experimental aircraft...

[@XLR8RV]

hehe!yep

[@Bow-to-the-absurd]

i would.

[@Fi1del]

looks alot like Sikorski UH-60

[@arbitar222]

damn to much w8 on the bak but i like mi old air craft that we have in the air now

[@Helge129]

FAST. That's all you gotta know ;)

[@benkenobi1990]

i think they kinda over thought that one

[@sciom1001]

yeah but then again the hole thing is designed to be super fast.

[@dimovskigoran]

prototip !

[@Bidimus1]

Not a totaly new idea either Google AH-56_Cheyenne Attack Compound Aircraft.

[@Cleared_To_Land]

165 knots Straight and level is not impressive, considering I do that in an s-70a-9. Oh, and i have done 180 knots in a small dive with a 28 knot tail wind.. so i actually had approx 208 kts ground speed!!!! Ok, I'll shut up now.. I know the speedhawk will go faster with further testing.

[@XLR8RV]

poor thing the other blackhawks are never gonnalet him live this down.lol

[@24nomatter]

what an odd looking helicopter. If lockheed only continued the RAH-66 Comanche project, we wouldn't need this kind of design.

[@LionsBrain]

i think that normal helicopter's speed is same like that's....SPEEDHAWK... It's not so fast

[@RoboTekno]

looks a bit tail heavy :P

[@davehruban]

its so quiet

[@DJAM87]

new Airwolf ? lol