AFRL Distributed Propulsion Concept Vehicle

future projects, stealth, transports 2 Responses »

Jan 092020

Air Force Displays Model Of Exotic And Potentially Revolutionary Hybrid Electric Airlifter

@AFResearchLab unveiled novel distributed propulsion concept vehicle at #aiaaSciTech – incorporating array of electric fans could be basis for ‘vision vehicle’ for future @usairforce STOL tactical airlifter pic.twitter.com/UXfdrehXr7

— Guy Norris (@AvWeekGuy) January 8, 2020

The propulsion system may be efficient, but it has the appearance of not being a particularly stealthy one, which makes for a schizophrenic contrast with the clearly stealthified fuselage. Amusingly, if you look closely the USAF insignia on the wings of the model are *deeply* engraved.

Avro Arrow blueprints on display

fighter No Responses »

Jan 082020

Much of the history of aerospace that still exists does so because someone broke the rules and kept something they were told to destroy. Behold:

Avro Arrow blueprints on display after sitting in Sask. man’s home for decades

One would hope that these blueprints have been properly digitized.

Possibilities of New Business Growth: Ground Based Services

launch vehicles, rockets, space shuttle, space station, spacecraft No Responses »

Jan 082020

Continuing the report into a less interesting section, that of ground based services that in 1985 Rockwell thought might be profitable. these ideas included STS Marketing Services, Consolidated Space Operations Center, DOD “Schedule C,” Payload Certification from NASA, Commercial Payload Software Services, Commercial ASE Services, and Turn Key Launch Services.

Up next: More Interesting Stuff.

More after the break…

Possibilities of New Business Growth: Manned GEO Station

space station, spacecraft No Responses »

Jan 072020

In 1985 Rockwell – perhaps half-heartedly – suggested the possibility of a business case for a manned station in geosynchronous orbit. The station would be used to service satellites in GEO. While an interesting notion, satellites in GEO relatively rarely require any actual servicing; the three billion dollars Rockwell expected such a system would cost (and let’s face it, the cost would doubtless balloon) would likely far outweigh the cost of simply replacing the satellites.

Possibilities of New Business Growth: Space Construction Facilities

space station, spacecraft No Responses »

Jan 052020

In 1985, Rockwell considered that there might be a market for space construction facilities for large orbital structure such as solar power satellites, large radio/radar antenna, SDI “elements” (likely references the relatively gigantic neutral particle beams, space based lasers and other “space guns” that were contemplated at the time) and other large structures. This capability was first contemplated in the mid 70’s for the SPS program, but did not really last much past the late 80’s when such vast structures were no longer really expected anytime soon.

B-1 Artwork: not the view you really want of a supersonic aircraft

bomber, Monthly Historical Documents Program, Patreon No Responses »

Jan 042020

Certainly a dramatic shot, and also a very final shot for a bug, bird or unfortunate parachutist.

This Rockwell illustration dates from the early 70’s and represents the almost-final B-1 configuration, from back when being very supersonic was the goal rather than being stealthy at low altitude.

The full image has been made available as a thank-you to APR Patreon and Historical Documents Program patrons at the $4 and above level, placed in the 2020-01 APR Extras . If interested in this piece or if you are interested in helping to fund the preservation of this sort of thing, please consider becoming a patron, either through the APR Patreon or the Monthly Historical Document Program.

Lockheed Composite Aircraft Art

hi-rez, Monthly Historical Documents Program, Patreon, transports, VTOL 2 Responses »

Dec 072019

Some years ago I scored some aerospace concept art off ebay. This is not an unusual occurrence; I’ve procured a great many lithographs there. But this one was different… it was the *actual* original painting created in the mid-60’s. At the time I couldn’t really get a good scan of it, but a change in scanners a while back, coupled with the recent move and revival of the “scan everything” project allowed me to finally digitize the thing.

The image depicted a composite aircraft that used stowable rotors for VTOL and hover like a helicopter, and turbofan engines for efficient fast forward speed. As shown here it is operating in Viet Nam in a combat search and rescue role, something the Lockheed CL-945 (a very similar design) was intended for.

The full image is far bigger (a bit bigger than 10X the linear dimensions than the version above) and has been made available as a thank-you to APR Patreon and Historical Documents Program patrons at the above-$10-per-month level. If interested in this piece or if you are interested in helping to fund the preservation of this sort of thing, please consider becoming a patron, either through the APR Patreon or the Monthly Historical Document Program.

Large format scanning in progress

Dyna Soar, hi-rez, launch vehicles, Monthly Historical Documents Program, Patreon, rockets, spacecraft 1 Response »

Dec 062019

As hinted at here and there, I’ve recently moved from rural Utah to non-rural elsewhere. One of the benefits of the move was that it put me a LOT closer to large format scanning services. Previously getting a large blueprint scanned meant several hours on the road and then a return several days later to pick it up; now the drive is a matter of a few minutes. Consequently, my rather extensive backlog of large format aerospace art and diagrams is finally getting scanned in bulk.

Behold some recent results, mostly involving early Titan III, Saturn and Dyna Soar studies:

Some of these will end up in the monthly “catalogs” for the APR patrons to vote on… and some will end up as “extras” for patrons, particularly for above $10-level patrons. If these sort of images are of interest, or if you are interested in helping to fund the preservation of this sort of thing, please consider becoming a patron, either through the APR Patreon or the Monthly Historical Document Program.

Additionally: if you have large format diagrams that you feel are of aerospace historical interest, let me know. I’m always in the market to buy, rent, borrow such things.

Possibilities of New Business Growth: Nuclear/Microwave Space Power Systems

nukes, space station, spacecraft No Responses »

Dec 022019

By 1985, the Solar Power Satellite was essentially dead, killed off by the plumetting price of oil. But the technology developed for it was still valid, and Rockwell thought there might be a use for microwave power transmission systems. Their idea here was to use a space-based nuclear reactor – apparently something along the lines of the SP-100 – to generate electricity and then use SPS-derived microwave beaming tech to send that power to distant “customers” such as space stations and satellites. This would permit the customers to basically have nuclear power, but without the risks of having a nearby radiation source. The receiver would be much lighter than a PV array in terms of construction, and vastly more efficient, since all the energy coming in is of a single fixed frequency. A space station could presumably have a power receiver in the form of a mesh “net,” perhaps a single sphere a few meters in diameter at the end of a modest mast, capable of capturing dozens to hundreds of kilowatts of clean electrical power. This would lower the cost and mass of power systems compared to PV arrays… and it would greatly reduce the drag produced by those giant sails.

Possibilities of New Business Growth: Space Station Lifeboat

space station, spacecraft No Responses »

Nov 302019

Rockwell suggested in 1985 that manned versions of their ballistic cargo return systems could be used to return astronauts from the space station in the event of an on-orbit disaster. Two concepts are illustrated (“ENCAP” and “SAVER”), one similar to the Douglas “Paracone” from the 1960’s, and a version using a balloon to provide drag. So presumably the cargo return system, illustrated with a lifting body diagram, would actually closely resemble one of these systems.

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