What's the most amazing flying machine you've seen in person?

[FlyingBlind]

I mean! NOTHING penetrates Bushonemtumiinium! Its INPENETRABOL!

[Mike]

Ok guys, back to the original theme of this thread:

Let's not forget about this one:

[fireflyr]

I don't know about the tilt rotors, do they the capacity to auto-rotate?   Doesnt appear they are capable of gliding in the fixed wing configuation as the landing would be rather messy with those prop/rotors flinging off in large pieces.     Looks waaay too far from the KISS principle for me to feel safe in one.

[Gulfstream Driver]

On the OV-22 Osprey, at least, if you lose one engine, power is transfered from the good engine to both props.  And, if you lose the tilt ability, the props are designed to splinter like fiberglass, rather than shatter into shrapnel.

[Ted_Stryker]

On the OV-22 Osprey, at least, if you lose one engine, power is transfered from the good engine to both props.  And, if you lose the tilt ability, the props are designed to splinter like fiberglass, rather than shatter into shrapnel.

Took the words right out of my mouth  

One of the more amazing engineering feats of the MV-22, OV-22, and HV-22 (all variants of the Osprey), is the amazing machinery ballet that happens to fold the nacells and props for aircraft carrier stowage.  It's truly amazing that it can fold up the way it does, and that when unfolded, is strong enough to be functional.  I've seen it do it's thing in person a number of times, and it is definitely an amazing bird. 

Picking just one aircraft as the most amazing flying machine is tough with so many incredible machines out there

[fireflyr]

Thanks Gulf, I know about the trans shafts but Murphy's law dictates that someday they will have bilateral engine failures, then what?

It's probably an excellent concept and I'm probably too cautious with my own butt----just looks over complicated.   If nothing else, I'll bet the maintenence costs are pretty high because of a lot of life-limited parts (more than a helicopter, I would imagine.

[Mike]

Hey Ted, does the civilian version have all those "folding capabilities" as well?

I always thought that's what made it too complicated and like everybody else was just saying "less fail-safe". But if the prop-tilting would be the only thing it does without folding the wing sideways and folding the blades I think this could work as well as a helicopter (although it would take up a lot of space sitting on the ground)...

[Ted_Stryker]

Hey Ted, does the civilian version have all those "folding capabilities" as well?

I always thought that's what made it too complicated and like everybody else was just saying "less fail-safe". But if the prop-tilting would be the only thing it does without folding the wing sideways and folding the blades I think this could work as well as a helicopter (although it would take up a lot of space sitting on the ground)...

All the military versions do allow for blade folding and nacell rotation for more compact storage, especially with aircraft carrier or other confined storage deployment needs.  The Bell Helicopter Company makes a civilian tilt rotor similar to the Osprey, but it does not do the blade folding or nacell rotation other than the tilting action.  There are plans for a civilian version of the military Osprey, but it too will likely not have the blade fold capacity.  It adds a lot of weight, and the maintenance of the system is highly complex.

As for if it performs as well as a chopper, yes.  In fact, it has heavy lift capacity that brings it up within the mid-range military cargo choppers.  It's also pretty darn fast

[Mike]

well, I personally think that this concept does have a lot of future

we'll see what happens.
I heard you have to have an ATP fixed wing and an ATP helo rating to become a powered lift pilot and get a job on one fo those...
That's a pretty big investment!

[Ted_Stryker]

well, I personally think that this concept does have a lot of future

we'll see what happens.
I heard you have to have an ATP fixed wing and an ATP helo rating to become a powered lift pilot and get a job on one fo those...
That's a pretty big investment!

That's why most of the ones flying them are military or ex-military where they got their training .... not in all cases, but in most.

[Gulfstream Driver]

I think in the case of both engines failing, you come out of the sky.     I'm sure the glide ratio isn't as good as a similarly sized "normal airplane", but it'll be better than a chopper.   

[Mike]

yeah...but isn't that the case with most planes (jets mainly)??

If both engines fail, it really wasn't your day, was it!?

[Gulfstream Driver]

No doubt.  Dead sticking a GV is not my idea of a fun time.   

[fireflyr]

AT least they'll glide----google the "Gimli Glider"

I remember when it happened, crew did a great job

[Gulfstream Driver]

Talk about pucker factor...