New type of aircraft flies like a UFO

tgdaily ^ | Jun 22nd 2011 | Emma Woollacott

[JoeProBono]

Austrian research firm IAT21 has unveiled a radically new type of aircraft that could render the helicopter obsolete.D-Dalus can 'approach as gently and silently as a hot air balloon', say its developers, hover, rotate in any direction and fly as fast as a jet.

Unlike VTOL aircraft or helicopters, it can easily cope with poor weather or the lurching deck of a ship.

The propulsion system consists essentially of four sets of contra-rotating disks, each driven at 2,200 rpm by a conventional aero-engine. The disks are surrounded by blades whose angle of attack can be altered using servos, allowing thrust in any direction.

This allows it to launch vertically, hover in a fixed position in the air and travel or rotate in any direction. It can even 'glue' itself to the deck of a ship by thrusting upwards.

Apparently, it's easier to fly than a helicopter, with a simple joystick control, and can be repaired by your average car mechanic. because there are no external moving parts such as rotor blades, it has 360 degree vision. A sense-and avoid system means it can fly through small spaces or hover right next to a rock face or wall.

Initially, the designers say they expect the propulsion system to be used for robot drones in search and rescue missions and the like.

But, they add, in trials it looks as if larger versions are actually more efficient and less complex, meaning there's no reason why it couldn't be used in passenger aircraft.

They also envisage it being used as a hovering platform to load and unload ships.

Right now, the biggest version can only lift a payload of 70kg, although IAT21 is now working with the UK's Cranfield University on a larger, more powerful version.

[JoeProBono]

"At the heart of D-DALUS is a revolutionary propulsion system containing a number of patented inventions, including a friction free bearing at the points of high G force, and a system that keeps propulsion in dynamic equilibrium, thereby allowing the guidance system to quickly restore stability in flight.

The propulsion consists of 4 sets of contra-rotating disks, each set driven at the same rpm by a conventional aero-engine. The disks are surrounded by blades whose angle of attack can be altered by off-setting the axis of the rotating disks. As each blade can be given a different angle of attack, the resulting main thrust can be in any required direction in 360° around any axis. This allows the craft to launch vertically, remain in a fixed position in the air, travel in any direction, rotate in any direction, and thrust upwards thereby ‘gluing down’ on landing."

-http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread720823/pg1

[cripplecreek]

Its witchcraft I tell ya!

[ThomasThomas]

I thought UFO’s used an advanced anti-gravity Dionisio Krystle?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Minus the counter-rotating part: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CR5y8qZf0Y

[Malone LaVeigh]

I think you’re confused. Surely you mean dilithium crystals, don’t you Scotty?

[visualops]

They finally made my flying car??!?

[SaraJohnson]

Check this out.

[Overwatcher]

“... a system that keeps propulsion in dynamic equilibrium” - Wait! What?

[archy]

Advance pics of pilot and prototype troop carrier version:

[Hardraade]

Oh yes, I’ve seen the pilot’s manual. It uses voice commands. In Austrian.

[JoeProBono]

Read this:

[crazydad]

Good Catch there..

[newfreep]

Its witchcraft I tell ya!

Frank agrees...

[UCANSEE2]

Nothing new under the sun.

[JoeProBono]

[RegulatorCountry]

It's certainly an artless, ugly thing. I miss the days of "if it looks right, it is right." Some of ours are so downright sinister looking anymore, I have a hard time relating to them as representing a force for good. Black bats writ large. Sort of creepy.

[RegulatorCountry]

I thought UFO’s used an advanced anti-gravity Dionisio Krystle?

No, that some cheap Greek champagne.

[Malone LaVeigh]

Aye, Cap’n!

[GeronL]

interesting

[crazydad]

Best James Cameron Movie. Aliens takes the top of all his. Ok T2 is pretty damn good.