THE X-TREAM: CONSTRUCTING A NEW FORM OF SAFE VTOL FIXED WING AIRCRAFT

摘要

Since 2009 a small group of inventors in Austria have wrestled with one of the greatest challenges for the future: '.. .to develop a safe and cost effective means of transport that matches passenger growth expectations, yet reduces demands upon the environment.' Key to a solution would be Vertical Launch and Landing, High Speed, Low Fuel Consumption and the Ability to Swarm. The research team used private funding to examine a form of tilt-rotorcraft that would be safe, simple, cost effective and efficient. They focused on 5 design elements: a wing that would be efficient in both vertical and forward flight, safe transition during rotor tilt, high agility in tilt to allow the craft to conduct complex manoeuvres in building aircraft swarms, inherent stability to recover stable glide after shock manoeuvres or gusts and on engine failure, and a structure to accommodate a wide variety of payload configurations.