Japan studies novel high-speed helicopter concept
21 AUGUST, 2019 SOURCE: FLIGHTGLOBAL.COM
The concept, being developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), features a pair of small ducted fans installed on the tips of short, downward-angled wings
JAXA says its target is to “demonstrate technologies to achieve a target maximum speed of 270kt” and to achieve “doubled speed with doubled power”.
JAXA in 2014 performed flight tests of a one-seventh scale model, which used a similar configuration, and found that it could cope with the same advance ratio using “only the rotor pitch controls”.
Wind tunnel testing of the various components to optimise drag has also taken place.
Flight trials to test the new technologies using the scaled models will be held over the next three years, says JAXA.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/japan-studies-novel-high-speed-helicopter-concept-460400/