Does anybody of you know about a definite hoppicopter or micro-helicopter project to be used as escape vehicle for shot-down jet fighter pilots? I know there have been popular speculations, but I would be thankful for reports of anything that might have gone beyond that.
Regards, RT
By: Romantic Techno - 18th October 2011 at 14:45
Thank you Mr. Boyle!
Regards, RT
By: J Boyle - 17th October 2011 at 13:40
Experience in Vietnam led to the US Air Force starting the DDV program…Discretionary Descent Vehicle.
The Air Force program is fairly well-known, the X-25A and B, a pair of standard Benson Gyrocopters used by the USAF in the late 60s to conduct research on the idea. The A was a powered single seat model, the B a two seat flown as a glider and powered aiecraft. The single seast model is on display at the NMUSAF in Ohio.
The Benson (and perhaps Kaman, IIRC) company had a US Navy contract for research on a seat that would turn into a light helicopter. It got a bit of media attention atthe time and with an acronymed SAVER. I don’t know much about the Navy’s hardware, but some test flights were made.
The Air Force idea was to deploy the rotors after a small drag chute was used to slow the seat, the Navy looked at deplying the blades immediately.
I’d welcome more information of the project.
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October 17, 2011 at 10:38 am