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Skyhook

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:40 pm
by Lighthawk
What do you get when you mix a zeppelin and a helicopter?
The SkyHook JHL-40 is a hybrid airship/helicopter currently in development. On July 9, 2008, Boeing announced that it had teamed up with SkyHook International, a Canadian company, to develop this aircraft.

According to company spokepeople, the aircraft will combine the best features of a blimp and a helicopter, and will be capable of carrying a 40 ton load up to 200 miles (320 km) without refueling. At 302 feet (92 m) long, it will classify as the largest helicopter in the world, and will be capable of flying up to 800 miles (1,300 km) without a load. The craft will use helium to provide enough lift to carry its own weight, and will use four helicopter rotors to lift the load and to propel the aircraft. By using both helium and helicopter rotors, the aircraft can avoid having to jettison helium after unloading.

In comparison, the CH-47 Chinook helicopter can carry a load the same distance, but can only lift a maximum of 10 tons.

SkyHook claims that the aircraft will provide environmental benefits over traditional methods of delivering heavy loads, as it will require less fuel than a helicopter and will not require building big roads for construction equipment.

The JHL-40, or Jess Heavy Lifter, is named after Pete Jess, the President and Chief operating officer of SkyHook International, the company that owns the patent for the aircraft.

The planned aircraft has yet to be certified by Transport Canada and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Currently the aircraft's overall performance and layout have been established. The next major program milestone will be Detailed Design in 2011, which centers on the design, analysis and specification of all hardware, software and related aircraft and ground support systems interfaces. Boeing is designing and will fabricate a production SkyHook HLV prototype at its Rotorcraft Systems facility in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. The new aircraft will enter commercial service after it is certified by Transport Canada and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The first SkyHook HLV aircraft was scheduled to fly in 2014, on September 13, 2010 however, Financial Times Deutschland revealed that development was halted until an infusion of 100 million dollar in public funding would be available.
Source: Wikipedia

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Re: Skyhook

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:49 pm
by Tsukiyumi
That is seriously badass.

Re: Skyhook

Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:58 am
by Vic
I'll believe it when I see it flying.

Re: Skyhook

Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:29 pm
by Mikey
Vic wrote:I'll believe it when I see it flying.
Plan on living a long time, eh?

Re: Skyhook

Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:31 pm
by Vic
My wife said that our marriage was forever.....I have some time. :P :)

Re: Skyhook

Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:07 pm
by Sonic Glitch
I was reminded of this:

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Re: Skyhook

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:01 pm
by Teaos
So apparently Boeing is moving into evil villan locomotion nowadays...

Re: Skyhook

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 11:28 pm
by RK_Striker_JK_5
Teaos wrote:So apparently Boeing is moving into evil villan locomotion nowadays...
Yeah, that's straight out of Blofeld's playbook.

Re: Skyhook

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:16 pm
by Coalition
Get the cells a bit bigger, and I'd want to use a giant pump, to put the helium back inside storage tanks. No need for helicopter blades, just a bunch of compressors. If you make multiple cells inside the main envelope, you can divert helium as desired.

Overall, nice idea. Now to use it to help assemble skyscrapers. Load up some pre-welded frames, fly up to the top of the building under construction, and drop them all off, along with a regular crane.

Re: Skyhook

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:43 pm
by Tyyr
You're going to need the cells to be a LOT bigger for something that's supposed to lift 80,000 pounds. And those compressors and storage bottles will be quite large and heavy as well. This set up gives you rapid response and fine control of lifting the load.