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The Arc Wing VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) Airplane, is absolutely unique in being a true V/STOL
as a fixed wing aircraft with the high cruise speed. This plane requires only the basic elements of fixed wing aircraft for VTOL or cruise flight, namely, full span flaps and high installed power usable in both
VTOL and cruise. It has no need for heavy, costly, encumbering systems for conversion from one realm to another, no multiple rotors, no rotor folding devices, no cross shafting, no extra gear boxes, no "black
boxes" for programming, no wing tip or tail jets, no tail rotors, no lift fans or lift engines. It is a fixed wing
pilot's airplane, flown like a fixed wing airplane, with no need for rotor craft or other special training.
Recent Research
Aeromobile Inc. continues to investigate the properties of the Arc Wing and how those properties contribute
to the vertical take off and landing capabilities of the aircraft. This research is being carried out by William D. Bertelsen, son of Dr. Berteslen and an engineer.
This work has been presented to sessions of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Aviation (AIAA) and to
the American Helicopter Society (AHS) in 2005 and 2006. We have a slideshow presentation, along with videos of this pioneering research.
Click here to access the presentation and videos.
Why is the Arc Wing VTOL so valuable? I. Efficiency
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A.
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Large diameter dual rotating propellers with great disc area accelerating a huge mass of air at lower velocity makes for greater efficiency.
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B.
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Dual rotation propellers are estimated by to be 8% to 9% more efficient
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C.
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Arc Wing VTOL Airplane will have a lighter air frame for the following reasons:
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1)
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Closer coupled design.
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2)
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The arc wing and flaps are principally under tension loading and can be of very thin 100% composite structure. Similarly, the canard surfaces and tail
can be of composite, possibly wood epoxy saturation technique.
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3)
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The arc wing has inherent end plates (no need for vertical winglets) and therefore increased effective span enabling design of very short span equal to, or less
than, propeller diameter with consequent lower drag and lighter weight.
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D.
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Arc Wing VTOL Airplane will be smaller for a given payload.
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1)
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Less wetted area in cruise (dramatically less if tail less)
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2)
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Smaller landing area required, even less than needed for a helicopter of the same capacity, saving on land use.
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3)
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Smaller hangar space is required than for fixed wing as the short span arc wing and flaps tilt down aft to lower overhead clearance required, and the
tail (if any) will fold forward. A two car garage at home may be adequate for personal aircraft.
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E.
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V/STOL capability allows further great savings in time, eliminating inconvenience and delay with point-to-point, origin-to-destination travel rather than airport-to-airport.
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F.
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The combination of large diameter propellers, dual rotation, centerline thrust, twin engine reliability, small size, lighter weight, clean "all-up" condition will yield
very high cruise speed, about double that of the helicopter. With less time in flight, there is significant saving in fuel and personnel time, for both passengers and crew.
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G.
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Zero pitching moment quality of the Arc Wing VTOL negative lift and induced drag for angle of incidence fixation by the rearward horizontal tail. Using fore-aft shift of
the center of lift (C.L.), to maintain the wing angle of incidence may require no positive lift from horizontal canards, also eliminating induced drag.
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II. Safety
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A.
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The Arc Wing VTOL Airplane as a fixed wing aircraft will have fewer fatalities per 100,000 hours of operation incurred by the helicopter as shown by accident statistics.
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B.
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The ability to fly slowly or hover, back up, move sideways, and resist gusts increases safety in poor visibility and high winds.
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C.
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The mechanical simplicity of the Arc Wing VTOL Airplane diminishes the chance for failure of components. Twin engines driving centerline thrust propellers avoid the known hazards of
conventional twins.
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D.
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The Arc Wing VTOL Airplane requires no programming for conversion from VTOL or STOL to cruise or back to VTOL or STOL. Conventionally conditioned response and techniques
ingrained in all pilots are adequate to fly the Arc Wing VTOL Airplane through all realms of flight and in all emergencies. In contrast, the helicopter, tilt rotor, Harrier, tilt fan,
deflected jet, or jet blown wing aircraft require very special and often "unnatural" pilot response and training.
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III. Lowest Cost
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A.
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To manufacture:
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The arc wings and flaps can be simple fiberglass lay-up in very precise, highly polished female molds. There is no need for costly "high tech"
composites of either Kevlar or carbon filament, etc. And there need be no complex structural boxes, spars, ribs, bulkheads, stringers, etc., in the thin tension
loaded arc wing and flaps.
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2)
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Rearward tail booms and empennage could be made of West system lay-up, or other light weight composite.
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3)
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The light disc loading and low strain on the large diameter dual rotation propellers will allow them to be made of lighter weight materials, probably
composites.
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B.
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Lower cost to operate and maintain
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In contrast to the other VTOL's, that most prodigious vibration generator, the helicopter, which requires a high ratio of ground service time to
flight time, the smooth dual rotation system of the Arc Wing VTOL Airplane causes little shake, little low or high frequency vibration with proportionately less
fatigue failure, parts replacement, and maintenance.
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2)
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In propulsion, the Arc Wing VTOL without cyclic and collective pitch hubs, and flapping blades, is far simpler, and lighter than either the helicopter or
the tilt rotor and therefore cheaper to build and maintain.
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IV. Potential Uses of the Arc Wing VTOL Airplane
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A.
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Corporate aircraft, 4 to 24 passengers
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B.
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Private General Aviation aircraft, 4 to 8 passengers
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C.
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Commuter aircraft to and from city centers, rather than airport to airport, 12 or 18 passengers
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D.
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E.
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Emergency rescue, evacuation, disaster supply, relief
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F.
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G.
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H.
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Off-shore oil rig crew boat for Arctic and Temperate operations.
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I.
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Law enforcement, drug traffic control, and illegal entry surveillance
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J.
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Fire fighting, rescue from high-rise building and towers.
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K.
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Ship to shore cargo, personnel, and mail delivery.
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What Other Information is There About the Arc Wing VTOL airplane?
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A. April, 2006 Press Release regarding Arc Wing VTOL Airplane
This press release announces the publication in the widely read Sport Aviation magazine of an article on Dr. Bertelsen, his son, and their VTOL work.
B. Case for the Arc Wing VTOL Airplane
Dr. Bertelsen discusses compares and contrasts his fixed wing VTOL airplane with helicopters, tilt rotor craft, the new very light jets (VLJ) and other means of air
transportation.
C. History of Dr. Bertelsen's work on the Arc Wing VTOL Airplane - Revised
A more recent account of Dr. Bertelsen’s VTOL Research, including a number of photos and charts not in the original version.
D. NASA STTR Proposal, 2003
This presents Dr. Bertelsen’s plan, in conjunction with top University professors and industry leaders, to bring his Arc Wing VTOL Airplane concepts and design to a
full scal working model and from there to commercial practicality. This proposal was made to NASA in 2003, in connection with their Personal Air Vehicle (PAV)
program.. |
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2.
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3.
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VTOL Photo Gallery - has numerous photos and comments to give a more in-depth presentation of Dr.
Bertelsen's VTOL work.
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Last update: May 4, 2006
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