Jul 082011
A Boeing-Vertol tiltrotor design from 1970. Designed to USAF requirements, this could serve as either a transport or rescue craft. As a transport, the radius was 250 nautical miles with a cruise speed of 350 knots; witha 5-ton payload, vertical liftoff could be achieved at an altitude of 2,500 feet and a temperature of 93 degrees F. For rescue missions, the radius was 500 nautical miles with an assumed thirty-minute hover over the rescue location.
Empty weight: 45,861 lbs
Fuel weight: 10,224 lbs
Payload: 10,000 lbs
2 Responses to “Boeing Model 215 Tiltrotor”
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Admin,
I have read that the tilt-tor designs are very unreliable and are maintenance nightmares? Since you’re the engineering expert what do you have to say?
The XV-15 was, I understand, relatively trouble-free, while the V-22 has been a constant headache. The Bell Agusta 609 tiltrotor is as yet unproven, but Bell recently abandoned the whole thing, which indicates chances are good that Bell has concluded that it just ain’t worth the bother.
In short, it seems to be a great idea, but maintenance issues are seriously troublesome. It may be true that the headaches increase with increased size.