Sat, Jul 06, 2024
It’s common to visualize a small vertical lift UAV as having 4 to 6 propellers, it’s very maneuverable, but it has a short range and limited load caring capabilities. Well, NASA says you can have your cake and eat it too with something they call “Greased Lightning.”
ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, spent time at the Unmanned Systems 2015 Conference and met with aerospace engineer Bill Fredericks to talk about what’s different with their vehicle. Fredericks says they’re developing a vehicle that will have four times the efficiency of a standard rotorcraft. What you will see in the video is a vertical lift winged the vehicle that has 10 electrically driven propellers.
Fredericks explains that this concept vehicle that could lead to larger UAVs or even a personal air vehicle that you either climb on, or get in, and use for personal transportation. The Grease Lightning concept vehicle has a wingspan of 10 feet but Fredericks says it could be scaled up to a wingspan of more than 20 feet to accommodate a manned operation.
As the interview continues, Fredericks goes on to talk about expanding this project into other areas and applications. This is a classic case where words simply don’t do the job; you need to watch the video and listen to the interview to see some of the great stuff that’s being developed by NASA.
Aero-TV is a production of the Internationally syndicated Aero-News Network. Seen worldwide by hundreds of thousands of aviators and aviation adherents, Aero-TV has produced over 2000 aviation and feature programs, including several hundred episodes of our daily aviation news program, AIRBORNE, hosted by Bri Cross. Parent company, Aero-News Network, has the most aggressive and intensive editorial profile of any aviation news organization and has published nearly 200,000 news and feature stories since its inception -- having pioneered the online 24/7 aviation new-media model that so many have emulated.
More News
“Achieving PMA for the S-1200 Series magnetos is another step in expanding our commitment to providing the aviation community with the most trusted and durable ‘firewal>[...]
Also: Bell 505 on SAF, NYPA Gets Flak For BizAv 'Abuse', FAA Venezuela Caution, Horizon Update Textron Aviation has confirmed it will be ending production of the Beechcraft Bonanza>[...]
State-Of-The-Art Common Automation Platform To Replace Legacy Systems The FAA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the initiative of the Trump Administration and U.>[...]
Kunsan Air Base Reported the Accident During Routine Operations The US Air Force has confirmed that it lost an MQ-9 Reaper drone to the South Korean waters on November 24. The airc>[...]
PowerUp S-1200 Series Approved, Available for 4- And 6-Cylinder Engines Hartzell Engine Tech announced it received FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval for its PowerUp S-1200 Series air>[...]
Aero-News: Quote of the Day (11.27.25)
See All