Credit: NASA Langley/David C. Bowman Posted on 05/04/2015 6:56:04 AM PDT by Red Badger
Credit: NASA Langley/David C. Bowman
A team at NASA's Langley Research Center is developing a concept of a battery-powered plane that has 10 engines and can take off like a helicopter and fly efficiently like an aircraft. The prototype, called Greased Lightning or GL-10, is currently in the design and testing phase. The initial thought was to develop a 20-foot wingspan (6.1 meters) aircraft powered by hybrid diesel/electric engines, but the team started with smaller versions for testing, built by rapid prototyping.
Imagine a battery-powered plane that has 10 engines and can take off like a helicopter and fly efficiently like an aircraft. That is a concept being developed by NASA researchers called Greased Lightning or GL-10.
The team, at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, is looking at the idea initially as a potential unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). "We have a couple of options that this concept could be good for," said Bill Fredericks, aerospace engineer. "It could be used for small package delivery or vertical take off and landing, long endurance surveillance for agriculture, mapping and other applications. A scaled up version—much larger than what we are testing now—would make also a great one to four person size personal air vehicle.""
The GL-10 is currently in the design and testing phase. The initial thought was to develop a 20-foot wingspan (6.1 meters) aircraft powered by hybrid diesel/electric engines, but the team started with smaller versions for testing, built by rapid prototyping.
"We built 12 prototypes, starting with simple five-pound (2.3 kilograms) foam models and then 25-pound (11.3 kilograms), highly modified fiberglass hobby airplane kits all leading up to the 55-pound (24.9 kilograms), high quality, carbon fiber GL-10 built in our model shop by expert technicians, " said aerospace engineer David North.
"Each prototype helped us answer technical questions while keeping costs down. We did lose some of the early prototypes to 'hard landings' as we learned how to configure the flight control system. But we discovered something from each loss and were able to keep moving forward."
During a recent spring day the engineers took the GL-10 to test its wings at a military base about two hours away from NASA Langley. The remotely piloted plane has a 10-foot wingspan (3.05 meters), eight electric motors on the wings, two electric motors on the tail and weighs a maximum of 62 pounds (28.1 kilograms) at take off.
It had already passed hover tests—flying like a helicopter—with flying colors. But now was the big hurdle—the transition from vertical to forward "wing-borne" flight. As engineers who have designed full-scale vertical take off and landing tiltrotors such as the V-22 Osprey will tell you—that is no easy task because of the challenging flight aerodynamics.
"During the flight tests we successfully transitioned from hover to wing-borne flight like a conventional airplane then back to hover again. So far we have done this on five flights," said Fredericks. "We were ecstatic. Now we're working on our second goal—to demonstrate that this concept is four times more aerodynamically efficient in cruise than a helicopter."
Zack Johns is the GL-10's primary pilot. He says flying the ten-engine aircraft has its ups and downs, but it really flies more like a three-engine plane from a control perspective.
"All four engines on the left wing are given the same command," said Johns. "The four engines on the right wing also work in concert. Then the two on the tail receive the same command."
One other advantage to the GL-10 besides its versatile vertical take off and landing ability is its noise or lack of it. "It's pretty quiet," said Fredericks. "The current prototype is quieter than a neighbor mowing the law with a gas-powered motor."
The next step in the GL-10 test program is to try to confirm its aerodynamic efficiency, but first is a stop at the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International 2015 conference in Atlanta May 4-7. The GL-10 will be the centerpiece of an exhibit showcasing some of NASA Langley's UAV research.
Part of that UAV research is for NASA Aeronautics' Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the National Airspace System Project, led out of the Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Engineers from Armstrong will highlight project accomplishments and upcoming work in a booth in Atlanta. The goal of the project is to provide research results to reduce the technical barriers associated with integrating unmanned aerial vehicles into the skies.
Researchers from the Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia will also be at the conference, highlighting unmanned aircraft for use in science missions. "Remotely piloted aircraft are enhancing NASA science investigations and serve as a platform to expand technology development for aircraft, cubesats and other platforms," said Wallops Director's Office official Mike Hitch.
NASA must be using Russian designers.
It looks like the Tupolev Tu-95
Russian Bear Bomber
Interesting concept. I wonder if there is potential to upgrade or replace the Osprey with more engines but smaller radius propellers.
Russians bombed bears?..............
NASA video of transition from hover to dwing-borne flight:
http://www.nasa.gov/langley/ten-engine-electric-plane-completes-successful-flight-test
NASA sent a rocket to the moon. Now theyre playing with propeller airplanes?
They went to electric when the rubber bands wouldn’t work.
Electric MOTOR not engine if I recall my nomenclature correctly
The hamster died....................
If it flies, why is it being lifted by a crane?
The tail rotors make me think the aircraft is tail heavy which means it will be unstable in horizontal flight.
It is a lot cheaper and more practcal than stupid stuff like “going to Mars” (for no apparent reason).
Anyone can buy the gyro stabilized electronics to make something like this work off the internet for $25 (made in China, of course)
This is where the “flying car” comes from, and the “flying car” IS going to happen.
Do you want your 2035 flying car made in the US or in China?
Looks like its being supported by a sling.
Seems a huge waste of taxpayer money, IMHO.
Come On NASA , battery-powered plane is so last century
All modern aircraft are “unstable in forward flight” in pitch.
This is more efficient than stable aircraft. The horizontal stab creates lift taking load off the wing (versus a stable aircraft where the stab creates negative lift and the wing has to generate even more lift to compensate).
Gyro’s and computers make them stable. $75 RC models have this same technology, now... you can put the CG at 50% MAC and they’ll fly great. Don’t try that with out a gyro.
The batteries are back there!........................B^)
Seems a huge waste of taxpayer money, IMHO.
...
That’s my bet, too.
Don’t try that with out a gyro.
If you say so.................Okay, I won't..............
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