Frontline Aerospace shows off "Humvee of the air"

While it looks like it's still quite a ways from actually being in the air, Frontline Aerospace nonetheless seems to have some pretty bold ambitions for its V-STAR unmanned aerial vehicle, which it has dubbed the "Humvee of the air." Like some of the flying car concepts we've seen, the V-STAR (or VTOL-Swift Tactical Aerial Resource) uses a ducted fan design, which promises to give it increased maneuverability in addition to vertical take off and landings, while dual Rolls-Royce Model 250 gas turbines help to propel it along at speeds up to 288 knots with a 400-pound payload. As you might have guessed, the company isn't making any promises as to when we can expect the first test flight, although they have apparently at least done some wind-tunnel tests (presumably on a scale model).

[Via The Register]

[Gordy @ Jun 16th 2008 3:09PM]

Odd. Desert camo isn't really effective in the sky.

[Mike @ Jun 16th 2008 3:17PM]

Funny how you can't see the underside of the aircraft, where desert camo would actually be useless. If this is a low altitude aircraft, camo on top is a great idea.

[Aguiluz @ Jun 16th 2008 3:18PM]

But I think it won't be visible to sattelites.

[sammeke288 @ Jun 16th 2008 3:22PM]

it is when another aircraft looks from above to the ground ;)

[Aguiluz @ Jun 16th 2008 3:19PM]

*satellite

[The 3rd Hot Dog @ Jun 16th 2008 3:20PM]

Also, consider those times when the vehicle will be on the ground.

[Mam00th @ Jun 16th 2008 3:28PM]

You know what's odd? I have a strong feeling that this will turn in an apple vs microsoft thread...

This place has been like hell since WWDC

[Mam00th @ Jun 16th 2008 3:31PM]

Because this will somehow turn in a forum

[OneLove @ Jun 16th 2008 5:02PM]

so this doesn't have armor upgrade either?

[BluesK1d @ Jun 18th 2008 10:49AM]

Yeah you are right. I would want my troop transport that is often landing outside of secure airbases to not blend in at all.

[phanbouy @ Jun 16th 2008 3:11PM]

um. yeah, that's some gadget.

oh well, i guess once the federal contract gravy train comes through and V-STAR (hey, that's a Yamaha motorcycle!), we'll eventually have consumer knock-off's so all the small peckered Hummer drivers can terrorize both air _and_ land.

[Brian @ Jun 16th 2008 4:58PM]

lol....nice.

[RC @ Jun 16th 2008 3:13PM]

Why are they calling it the humvee of the sky if it's unmanned? The point of the humvee is to carry people...it's a car.

[bi0hazard @ Jun 16th 2008 4:01PM]

maybe it uses a ridiculous amount of gas just to travel short distances

[Ayman @ Jun 16th 2008 4:13PM]

They are waiting for Arnold to come and buy a couple and then decide to make civilian Hummers
then after a few years, you would have hummers called H2 and H3 which is would be even smaller and yet consume the same amount of gas

... oh wait

[Ayle @ Jun 16th 2008 4:33PM]

Humvee: High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle

It fits the description.

[BrokenMonkey @ Jun 16th 2008 6:41PM]

No it doesn't, there's no wheels (I think, it is a WTOL craft after all, no need for them).

[Don Corleone @ Jun 16th 2008 3:15PM]

This probably costs a few trillion.

[DestroyerMTL @ Jun 16th 2008 3:37PM]

Good old Military Industrial Complex.

[Kyle @ Jun 16th 2008 3:16PM]

Wow is that thing fucking ugly, seriously what is that thing it looks like a joint venture between GI Joe and Lego's. And seriously last time I checked camo in the sky is just stealth technology not a tacky paint job

[Zoli @ Jun 16th 2008 3:20PM]

Looks like they ripped it off from the X-Hawk:

http://www.urbanaero.com/Frame-X-Hawk.htm

[Morgan Percy @ Jun 16th 2008 3:56PM]

Really? Other than they both fly I really don't see much alike.

[Dan Davis @ Jun 16th 2008 3:20PM]

I would suggest removing the chocolate chip camo pattern... it's sooo 1991 Desert Storm.

[Shawn @ Jun 16th 2008 3:24PM]

Our military's specializing in oragami?

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Jun 16th 2008 3:25PM]

Just wait until GM makes it available to Joe Sixpack.

[Ellianth @ Jun 16th 2008 3:29PM]

Thunderbirds are go!

[Wolfticket @ Jun 16th 2008 3:41PM]

Very much so. Paint it green and it's Thunderbird 2.

[MBS @ Jun 16th 2008 4:04PM]

Humvee of the sky; because pilots have small penises too!

[bargh @ Jun 16th 2008 4:10PM]

well, i really like new VTOL concepts.. this one even looks simple enough to do its job.. but without a working prototype, just based on their website's comparison chart and little background info i'd call it vapoware..

[Fraggle.Rock @ Jun 16th 2008 4:25PM]

I'm with Dan Davis...

Eww, old-skool chocolate-chip camo, who uses that scheme nowadays!? (at least in terms of advanced militaries)

[Jhongerkong @ Jun 16th 2008 4:42PM]

*WHHRRRRRR!!! PEW! PEW!! PEW! RRRRRRRRRRR!!! CRASH!!! BOOOM!!* HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM!!



Sorry, just had to get that out of my system

[telepheedian @ Jun 16th 2008 4:53PM]

To me, it looks like a flying fish with a propeller on the back.

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Jun 16th 2008 9:40PM]

Nice icon.

[Mark @ Jun 16th 2008 4:58PM]

Humvee of the air - using gasoline 5 times faster then other airborne vehicles.

[teej @ Jun 16th 2008 5:09PM]

::insert ubiquitous, inane Flashpoint comment here::

[Marcus @ Jun 16th 2008 5:20PM]

It looks like something you'd get in a cereal box.

[BratPAQ @ Jun 16th 2008 6:07PM]

this reminds me of something, oh yes, this: http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/2706/317narkcopyfc0.jpg

[Wondering @ Jun 16th 2008 6:21PM]

What does this have to do with the iphone?

[Bill @ Jun 16th 2008 6:32PM]

Pretty sweet looking contraption. Endurance of 19 hours for surveillance, autonomous delivery of ammo / supplies, no doubt flies nap-of-the earth to avoid detection. I like it!

w/o having any pilot and the necessary pilot support systems, shouldn't be that expensive to mass produce. A jeep of the air. . .search and rescue versions could carry advanced sensors and when target is spotted, airdrop 100+ pounds of food/fuel/medical supplies.

Really don't see why people are so down on this; looks practical, inexpensive and has many applications. No reason wounded could not be stabilized, loaded into the thing's cargo bay, and flown to a hospital.

[BrokenMonkey @ Jun 16th 2008 6:42PM]

That picture gives no sense of scale, for all I know it's about as big as an R/C plane (that's what it looks like)

[jolin133 @ Jun 16th 2008 7:02PM]

It's an interesting concept, although it remains to be seen whether it can make enough of a dent to be put into production.

jolin133 - www.johnolinda.com

[Wwhat @ Jun 16th 2008 10:04PM]

Why do they specify speed in knots? I read they started to do that with aviation in 1969, which to me seems bizarre since it's a nautical term based on outdated measuring techniques, people eh, they just will not make sense.
Oh and why don't they measure height in the sky in fathom while they are at it, or is 'feet' silly enough?

[der1176 @ Jun 17th 2008 12:45AM]

If you go to their website at www.frontlineaerospace.com, there is a document that goes into considerable detail about the design and its mission. It saves gas, not a hog. And the HUMVEE idea is that when guys on the front lines need food, water, ammo, etc., now, they need it now. The only alternative in Iraq is to send out convoys of trucks or HUMVEES, which use tons of gas, hit Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), get people captured and all for a relatively low volume of critical supplies. We'll see if this flies, but it looks like the design is to get the job done, not look pretty.

[Mr. S. @ Jun 17th 2008 12:50AM]

First!

[Wwhat @ Jun 18th 2008 8:34AM]

The army really needs a 'real' flying humvee, that way they don't get killed all the time driving and then can pretend they won the war more easily by flying over it, assuming they bring lots of flares and fly very high (you can't armour it too much due tot he weight)..
Basically they need a chopper that doesn't require a pilot license.
Alternatively they can learn the meaning of 'pointless' and 'tactical retreat' and 'let them simmer in their own shit' and apply that to operations.

[John Olinda @ Jun 25th 2008 4:59PM]

Please try to remain objective Wwhat, it's really not very mature to flame people or ideas in a public forum, let alone ranting about units of measurement. If you've got that much free time, perhaps you can find something more productive to do?

[Wwhat @ Jun 25th 2008 6:39PM]

Bite me.

[N Vang @ Nov 1st 2008 5:56PM]

There is noway any normal common sense would think this is a VSTOL, even if it is according to claims it would kick so much dusts that render its useless. I've got better idea....flip it upside down and see if it will roll back.


vn