Lockheed Martin's 'Flying Humvee' Concept Gets a Lift from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

[unhappycamper]

Lockheed's 'Flying Humvee' Design for DARPA's Transformer Program


http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-08/lockheed-martins-flying-humvee-concept-gets-lift-f-35-joint-strike-fighter
Lockheed Martin's 'Flying Humvee' Concept Gets a Lift from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
By Clay Dillow Posted 08.10.2012 at 9:40 am

When DARPA launched its Transformer (TX) program back in early 2010, PopSci responded as most media did by applauding the ambition while simultaneously harboring serious skepticism. In essence the DoD was asking for a flying car, a “1- to 4-person transportation vehicle that can drive and fly,” capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), for troops looking to avoid rough terrain and IEDs. The very idea simply feels impossible--at least until you have a sober conversation with the guy building it.

~snip~

It’s a good time to conduct a little PR. Both Lockheed’s and AAI’s projects recently passed a preliminary design review by DARPA, one that included computer modeling of the designs. Both designs passed muster. From an engineering perspective (albeit a theoretical engineering perspective), the modeling didn’t reveal any show-stopping flaws in either concept. For Renshaw and Lockheed, that means that for now they are on the right track.

~snip~

Of course, the F-35 is over budget, behind schedule, and riddled with challenging design problems--and it’s an actual airplane, something Lockheed has designed and built countless times before (to be fair, it’s an extremely complicated aircraft to build). The Transformer program expires in 2015, and that’s when DARPA wants to have a working prototype of its flying humvee (the agency will choose which of the two designs will move forward into the prototyping phase at the end of this year after a further design review). And while both designs have their merits and demerits--Lockheed’s would maintain a controlled hover while AAI’s would not; AAI’s likely has more design leeway in terms of weight (and potential up-armoring) while Lockheed has a lot of weight sitting on top of the vehicle--neither is going to be easy, or cheap, to build.

~snip~

The designs are marching forward and DARPA might just have its “flying car” in as few as three years. The question is: will anyone be able to afford it?

[toddwv]

1. Just what we need...

a bunch of rednecks flying around in their "Sky Hummers"...

[Bonhomme Richard]

2. Don't we already have that and isn't it called........

a helicopter?

[catnhatnh]

3. Stupidest idea...

...since the armor-plated zeppelin...

[WooWooWoo]

4. Wow

I'd hate to have to PMCS that thing before every mission.