AV-13 Dragonfly - a XV-15/AH-1/64/propfan mash-up

[ChernayaAkula]

Found this cool beast while looking for contra-rotating props:



To me, it looks like a combination of an XV-15 and an AH-1 or AH-64, with some bits and pieces thrown on. Really like changing the big rotors for a propfan-ish arrangement.

Would this type of propeller work instead of a rotor? Looks cool any way. Two six-bladed counter-rotating props. Wow!

[Aircav]

Very cool 

[ChernayaAkula]

I'm still confused by that propeller design. The prop blades seem rather long, but would they be long enough to support a vertical lift-off? Or would at least angling up the engine nacelles shorten take-off distance?

[Weaver]

Well small props need to turn faster to generate the same thrust as large, slow ones, so if you put enough power through those props they WILL provide lift-off, but the downwash will be much more energetic. It'll be halfway between a helicopter and a Harrier, I imagine.....

[lancer]

Ok, this is incredibly cool, awsome and sexy looking, but - there's always a but isn't there?? - I see it working better as a fixed wing machine rather that a tilt rotor. As has been stated already the props look too small to give enough thrust to lift vertically. Well, thats my two penneth anyway.

[jcf]

Perhaps some Curtiss in the mash-up:
http://prototypes.free.fr/curtiss/x100-1.htm



http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/curtiss_x-19.php

[Shasper]

The Propfans would work just as well as the old proters, good news is if needed to you can perform a standard rolling takeoff instead of STO or VTO. Down side is the amount of propwash being put out (A Propfan is similar to the standard high by-pass turbofan, just without the engine ducting), and the noise level.



Shas