No More Dragon Wings?

[fara]

On a selfish note....very bad news for us in the UK. They are the only available blades we can currently use and the recent rise in interest in single seaters could be strangled.
My guess is this company intends to follow the current craze of churning out ELA clones and wants to make their own blades.
Pity Mr Boyette can't give us more details but he probably has his reasons.

By "this company" you mean Luminati Aerospace?

[JasonS]

Name reminds me of the illuminati conspiracy stuff! LOL! Or is it just an enlightened approach to aviation.... I guess we will have to wait and see what HAPPENS!..

Hopefully we will hear from them here on the this very forum.

[bpearson]

By "this company" you mean Luminati Aerospace?

Yes. It seems to be the current trend.

[scottessex]

So,, What is the future of Dragon wings? will they just never be heard of again? or will the price just double and the service will suck? I guess we will have to see,
So that leaves what, sportcopter as the only American blade manufacturer?

[EI-BENSEN]

HI,
I have been trying to get onto the RFD web site but cant. Has anyone else experienced the same problem?
Paddy

[Gyro28866]

I just tried it and went right in.
http://www.rotorflightdynamicsinc.com/

[gyromike]

Paddy,

I just renewed Ernie's domain name. It should come up shortly.
I got sidetracked and forgot to do it earlier.

[EI-BENSEN]

Hi,
Thanks guys all is well again.
Paddy.

[luminatiVTOL]

Hello all!
Please visit https://www.luminativtol.aero and feel free to contact us with all your questions and need.

[Joe Pires]

Hello all!
Please visit https://www.luminativtol.aero and feel free to contact us with all your questions and need.

Glad to see them show up. Now lets see a price list and order form!

[NoWingsAttached]

I'm wondering about the references on their website to a Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne and how that is connected to Luminati. Perhaps they acquired one and are converting it to electric power? Very strange.

I looked up AH-56 on Wiki and it says only 7 prototypes were built, 4 are on display, at least one crashed and was destroyed completely. It was an amazing design with stub wings, pusher prop, documented speeds up to 247 mph in level flight. But with 1967-69 technology it was a handful to pilot with handling issues that were difficult to work out. The project was cancelled as a large volume of very successful Apaches were delivered in place of the intended Cheyenne and the Air Force lobbied for air support role command that overtook its intended purpose.

Lockheed never built another helo.

So my question is: Does Luminati have one of the very few remaining Cheyennes in a hanger somewhere?

[NoWingsAttached]

I'm wondering about the references on their website to a Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne and how that is connected to Luminati. Perhaps they acquired one and are converting it to electric power? Very strange.

I looked up AH-56 on Wiki and it says only 7 prototypes were built, 4 are on display, at least one crashed and was destroyed completely. It was an amazing design with a rigid rotor, stub wings, and a pusher prop producing documented speeds up to 247 mph in level flight. And it could hover at 6000 ft and 95°F. But with 1967-69 technology it was a handful to pilot with issues that were difficult to work out. The project was cancelled as a large volume of very successful Apaches were delivered in place of the intended Cheyenne, and the Air Force lobbied for the air support role command that overtook its intended purpose.

Lockheed never built another helo.

Does Luminati have one of the very few remaining Cheyennes in a hanger somewhere - one that they are converting to electric battery power?

[NoWingsAttached]

I think I have the number of prototypes built wrong, but am unable to edit the post so mentioning the correction here.