$9B in pre-orders for super-slow, super-quiet aircraft

newatlas.com

14 points·harambae··6 comments

The slow here refers to the ability to fly at very slow speeds, and therefore take off and land on short runways. The cruise speed is "around 200mph".

Very cool! These could slot in to spaces where you'd otherwise have to drive a long distance to a nearby airfield.

35 mph takeoff, their best distance has been 150 ft takeoff and 114 ft landing. It can carry over 3,000 pounds, with room for 9 passengers and luggage. 55 dB (on the ground, I assume) from 500 ft altitude.

(They claim.)

It seems like there would be many military applications. The US military expects highly dispersed operations, especially on western Pacific islands, with all the logistical problems that go with that. A STOL, quiet, hybrid aircraft would seem very useful.

That’s true, however… those islands are very far apart and aircraft will need a lot of range to be useful.

I’m curious what the advantage of the short takeoff distance is. In practical use, would these ever not be operating from an established airport? If not an airport, where?

Military operations happen in many places without infrastructure: Wilderness, islands, mountains, etc. The logistics are sometimes considered the most important factor in success. Going forward, precision missiles mean that large infrastructure and truck convoys are relatively easily destroyed; dispersed operations at smaller scales are expected to be needed. Also, trucks aren't as useful on western Pacific islands.

As a very basic concept of it, the US military uses the C-130, a turboprop plane designed for these situations. The people on the ground prepare a relatively short, unimproved (e.g., dirt) runway, and the C-130 can bring in and take out supplies and personnel.

What sort of range?

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