Avpro Concepts

[Mossie]

I mentioned in another thread that I'd post some images of Avro concepts that I had in the AFM X-Plane special publications, so here you go, enjoy!  They were doing the rounds late 90's.

Also see this link that Chuck provided in the other thread, some other images as well as some three view:

http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/future/uavs.htm

Firstly, UCAV's:


Unknown UCAV concept


Avenger VTOL Naval UCAV


Archangel UCAV, possibly a contender for FOAS


Another image of Archangel

Several more coming up, I'll post them in batches.

Simon

[Mossie]

FOAS Concepts:


Mixed manned/unmanned combination


Another manned/unmanned combination


FOAS-1, a manned/unmanned combination using like aircraft.  One of my favourites this one, gorgeous painting.  Notice 617 Sqn markings, in a naval support role, also the stealth carrier & assault ship, other projects of theirs.


Strike version of Eurofighter (not named Typhoon by then, don't ask me why Avpro was mooting it)

Simon.

[Mossie]

Future Carrier Based Aircraft (FCAB) & fighter concepts:


Rapier FSW fighter


Marauder wing-hulled concept.  I like the 'beefy' look of this one!


JSF 'alternative'.  Looks very like the F-35 to me.


Royal Navy FCBA concept

Simon.

[Mossie]

Russian concepts (not sure what Avpro were thinking here, the new politcal situation must have gone to their heads!):


Russian convertiplane concept


Russian bomber concept.  I love the engine configuration on this one!


Another Russian bomber concept

Simon.

[Mossie]

Other manufacturers designs:

The way my scanner works you've got to do a page of a book at a time & thes got caught up so I included them for the hell of it!


Lockheed Martin UCAV concept


Eurofighter with conformal fuel tanks. Contender for FOAS


Boeing UCAV concept.  Looks remarkably like Bird of Prey, before that aircraft was released to the public.


BAe UCAV concept.  Pretty sure anyway, although it looks pretty similar to Avpros UCAV-2 concept.

Sorry if all these images have slowed down any steam powered computers, but I hope you all enjoy or even get some inspiration out of them.

Simon.

[ysi_maniac]

Very interesting.  
I do not like UCAVs or stealth aircraft, but Typhies and Russians are really inspiring.

   

[B777LR]

Lockheed martin is currently studying an unmanned version of the F-35

[jcf]

Lockheed Martin UCAV concept


Boeing UCAV concept.  Looks remarkably like Bird of Prey, before that aircraft was released to the public.

The Lockheed is the Sabre Warrior, here's a LINK to a Quicktime video:
Sabre Warrior

The Boeing is the X-45:








Cheers, Jon

[GTX]

If you want to see more of the AVPRO concepts try the following books:

"Warplanes of the Future" by David Oliver and Mike Ryan (former CEO of AVPRO)
"X-planes" by David Oliver and Mike Ryan

They also had a CD of their concepts available - if you ever get your hands on one please let me know.

Regards,

Greg

[Son of Damian]

"Warplanes of the Future" by David Oliver and Mike Ryan

I have that one it's a pretty good book.

Anyways I personnally don't think that any AF will go entirely UCAV, I for see a single pilot controling a flight of 3/4 UCAVs cuz it's alwasy nice to have the redundency of a human.    

[Freightdog862]

Never really understood the purpose of Avpro, but they used to have a good website (long gone, which didn't really explain what they were either). In my local aviation museum (Vallance collection at Gatwick Airport), tucked away in with the engine collection is the dusty 'Exint' rescue pod mock up shown hung on a Harrier GR-5 in the book (one of there only projects to make full scale mock up?), interesting project, at least I hope its a mock up as its made of plywood, you might prefer to take your chance with the enemy rather than climb in that!!
Colin

[amsci99]

What ever happened to Avpro, nothing was heard of them after their site went down. It was never explained if these were illustrations relating to concept studies commissioned by the Ministry of Defence.

[jamakni]

Any one have pictures of their "Super Frog"?  Just like the Russian Jet/helicopter.  It looks like a cross between a C-17 and a B-2.  Had a book form Avpro about concepts.  Was probably a fundraser for them.  Couldnt find it on my last trip home.

[RP1]

The Soviet Bomber concepts were real.  They are in Buttler and Gordon.  Myasichev M-20-9 and M-20-14.  They were featured in an AFM special on secret projects, so may have been commissioned for the mag.

RP1

[Mossie]

Good reponse over the weekend!  I was hoping to be able to repsond then as I've just bought a brand new home computer (these messages are being brought to you courtesy of the University of Hull, i.e. I'm skiveing work to be on the forum!) but I've got to wait a week because of the way the telephones are where I live.

Cheers John, I knew I'd seen the X-45 somewhere before but couldn't remember!  I'd seen another rendering of the Sabre Warrior in manned configuration but that's all I knew about it, thanks for the info.

Avpro just seemed to dissappear.  I think most of their concepts where privately run, hoping someone would take notice, rather than any official tender to an OR.  Their dissapearance seems to suggest they either went bust, or more likely they were absorbed into another company like QinetiQ or BAE.  Often these small technolgy firms are set up by venture capital companies, rather than having any dedicated manufacturing they try to astound the industry, then hope someone tries to buy them & they're concepts for a nice tidy sum.

The other possibility is that they dissapeared into the 'black' world & we'll see some of their technology in whatever becomes of FOAS.  In the US maybe, but not old Blighty!

On another thread, Darren posted this about the EXINT Pod.  It was planned to be fitted to Harriers & combat helicopters to insert & extract small special forces teams or evacuate casualties or downed aircrew.  It was thought that a comabat aircraft may offer advantages over a conventional transport helicopter when landing 'hot'.  I think there was also talk of a pure insertion variant that would be parachute dropped from a fixed wing aircraft!  Rather Johnny SAS than me!!!

Simon.