Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH has announced details of the completely new, bi-hybrid tactical Unmanned Aircraft System. project name TU-150, unifies fixed-wing with VTOL characteristics
total weight of up to 30 kg, consisting of imaging and signal intelligence sensors, payloads or effectors. The UAS can fly for up to eight hours at a maximum speed of around 220 km/h. It is being developedwith low operating costs in mind.
The power is generated in a turbine generator unit, drives both the electric rotors and the propeller. The unit operates on motor vehicle diesel (F54) or kerosene (F34/F40). The assembling of additional wing fuel tanks enables flight time to be extended by up to three hours.
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http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/uv-online/ila-2012-rheinmetall-hybrid-vtol-uav-makes-debut/
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RC one is definitely makeable, who is giving it a shot ? :)
Echo answered your question! Gusty boss, this is reserved for you :)
Powered rotors for VTOL doubling up as wind milling Auto gyro for the pusher engine powered forward flight mode and the motor for the rotors doubling as generators in forward flight. :-) .
Or is it a conventional variable pitch twin rotor with additional pusher for more forward speed.
For more forward speed defenitely must be the latter.
Got it right Sandy, I was doing some research on it, and definitely worth the try (once you are back from Pune) (Thanks Sanjay sir for the faith) some salient features AFAIK are:-
1. Gas engine is generating power and the exhaust is driving free rotating autogyro for ATOL (Automatic Takeoff and landing)
2. Must be PST or some older version gas engine cause as it does not use Keroburner for start
3. Pusher is a electric motor powered by electricity generated using a jet engine
It could be further tweaked for and not found in this version are as given below:-
1. Swivelling Jet engine for jet assisted forward and vertical flight
2. Locking free rotors for a 'X' wing config with a paddle prop
3. Eliminate such a big wing thereby reduce wt and increase efficiency
For RC
It Need not be a gas engine onboard power gene, it can well be a nitro/gas engine
Apparently, the big buzz now is the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA is trying to figure out how to allow unmanned aerial systems UAS, sometimes called unmanned aerial vehicles UAVs, to operate in the same civilian airspace with general aviation, commercial aviation, and even private space flight. The last thing we need is a robotic aircraft causing a mid air collision with the family flying along in their Cessna Skyhawk.
http://www.imageaircharter.com/ (http://www.imageaircharter.com/)