12 replies to this topic

[kow10120]

While reading about aviation today (a pretty common occurrence since starting my WOFT packet) I came across some articles about the Future Vertical Lift (FVT) program. I was just curious to hear what current Aviators out there think about it as well as the proposed V-280 Valor and SB-1 Defiant airframes that are competing for a spot to supply the military.

Any thoughts on how this would change the world of Army aviation? Pros/Cons and Likes/Dislikes? What this means for applicants just beginning to enter the WOFT pipeline?

[Creep0321]

This topic has been addressed with an almost identical question already.

[Gideon]

http://helicopterfor...ft/#entry187923

The thread already referenced.

[kow10120]

Thanks for the link. My bad, I managed to miss the posting on that topic.

[Gideon]

It was a little while back! Still had some good info. And more has developed recently.

[mike0331]

Update: V-280 takes maiden flight

 

https://www.armytime...80-valor-flies/

 

Mike

[UnchainedJay]

Here is a short video of the first flight of the V-280

https://www.youtube....h?v=Civi4cI1LW4

[mike0331]

Bumping this with some new V-280 footage

 

Mike

[ByteFlighter]

I wonder if the FAA is going to keep classifying the tiltrotors in their own class or eventually switch to logging both RW & FW time.....Just think - flying these puppies could get you the best of both worlds + turbine time for your retirement gig at an Airline......A boy can have dreams........

[mike0331]

What as the estimate for fielding now, 2035? 

Mike

[walkerman180]

I wonder if the FAA is going to keep classifying the tiltrotors in their own class or eventually switch to logging both RW & FW time.....Just think - flying these puppies could get you the best of both worlds + turbine time for your retirement gig at an Airline......A boy can have dreams........

They should just do what the Marines do with their Osprey's... classify them as flying Class A accidents waiting to happen!

 

Tilt-rotors blow! Why are we investing in this?

[mike0331]

By what metric do they blow, exactly? MV-22's are currently the USMC's safest rotary wing aircraft. It had some teething issues, and from what I understand is maintenance intensive, but a class-A mishap waiting to happen doesn't seem to be a fair description. 

As to why invest? I dunno, speed and range perhaps. Sikorsky's X2, if it is as scaleable as they claim, would make a pretty good contender I'd think, though it still seems to lack in the speed and range a tilt-rotor provides. That said I expect it's "helicopter" performance is better. 

 

Mike

[mike0331]

V-280 update: https://theaviationi...ogram-advances/

Tldr: flying with rotors horizontal, video embedded in article.