Sikorsky X-Wing (2013)

Sikorsky was attempting to bolt a helicopter atop a fixed-wing aircraft. Rather than the best of both worlds they wound up with the worst problems of each. A more interesting idea was the F-104 VTOL concept. Rather than put helo blades on a fighter, take the delta wing of a fighter and spin it like a helicopter blade. Take off with it spinning then fix it in place when flying forwards, potentially at supersonic speeds. The concept was never built but would have avoided the inherent inefficiencies of Sikorsky&#x27;s approach. And a supersonic rotary-wing aircraft would be very cool.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;elpoderdelasgalaxias.wordpress.com&#x2F;2014&#x2F;03&#x2F;28&#x2F;f-104-vtol-project-the-icing-on-the-cake&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;elpoderdelasgalaxias.wordpress.com&#x2F;2014&#x2F;03&#x2F;28&#x2F;f-104-...</a><p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.secretprojects.co.uk&#x2F;threads&#x2F;lockheed-f-104-%C2%AB-starfighter-%C2%BB-vtol-projects.431&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.secretprojects.co.uk&#x2F;threads&#x2F;lockheed-f-104-%C2%...</a>

This concept was eventually developed into the S-97&#x2F;RAIDER X&#x2F;Defiant line of helicopters..<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Sikorsky_S-97_Raider" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Sikorsky_S-97_Raider</a><p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Sikorsky–Boeing_SB-1_Defiant" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Sikorsky–Boeing_SB-1_Defiant</a><p>This is very much likely to be the template for the US next generation of assault and recon helicopters.

Thanks for sharing this. I grew up a few miles away from the Sikorsky plant in Stratford, CT. and as a kid remember seeing on a couple of occasions some of the experimental helicopters flying overhead. A lot of my friends parents worked at Sikorsky and sometimes would mention the program, in particular the ABC (advanced blade concept). It was mainly hushed but after what seemed like many years the experimental programs were moved out of Stratford or maybe scrapped. Then all the overhead traffic everyday were from the Blackhawk and Super Stallion programs the company was focused on to keep themselves going.<p>I still marvel at the Sikorsky Skycrane, IMO one of the most underrated aircraft ever produced. Whenever I see one I&#x27;m transported back in time seeing them flying over my neighborhood thinking that it was like a big giant wasp in the sky.

I interviewed at Sikorsky back in the day. Sort of wish I had pursued it, because the factory floor was <i>amazing</i>, but the manager reminded me of a guy from The Sopranos, and then I got into medical school. But that floor, man. Swashplates. Have you ever seen a swashplate, naked and alone on a pallet? Thin wall machining. I mean, goddamn, that was some sexy machine work. But they wanted me to run business analytics for government cost-accounting programs. Fuck. That. Also, medical school.

If you are an 80&#x27;s kid there was a G.I. Joe toy based on this.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.3djoes.com&#x2F;skystorm.html" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.3djoes.com&#x2F;skystorm.html</a>

I’m reminded of the aircraft in The 6th Day movie.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;7nqo_3kyw8M" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;7nqo_3kyw8M</a>

I&#x27;m not familiar with aviation, so I have no idea what I&#x27;m talking about, but that rotor looks to me a lot like the &quot;stealth&quot; helicopter remains from the Abbottabad &#x2F; bin Laden crash:<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.wired.com&#x2F;2011&#x2F;05&#x2F;aviation-geeks-scramble-to-i-d-osama-raids-mystery-copter&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.wired.com&#x2F;2011&#x2F;05&#x2F;aviation-geeks-scramble-to-i-d...</a><p>Much different than this design:<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Sikorsky_UH-60_Black_Hawk" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Sikorsky_UH-60_Black_Hawk</a>

I&#x27;m not an aeronautical engineer or anything... but the downwash from the rotors onto the large fixed undermounted wings on the RSRA test model is some serious WTF, no?

Ok, that&#x27;s wicked. I guess I&#x27;m a kid at heart because I only looked at the pictures :)<p>Although looking at that render (erm, drawing) at the top it looks like a lot of the thrust of the rotor would be eliminated &#x2F; redirected by the fuselage. It doesn&#x27;t look like that later, so I guess that was more a visual effects decision than a design one.

Random tidbit: Robert Williams, the DARPA PM for (at least some of) this, was also DARPA&#x27;s PM for NASP.