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Images by Adrian Mann © FanWing Ltd. 2011 |
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news
December 2011
CEAS Conference, Venice, October 2011 : George Seyfang presentation - see Recent Developments of the FanWing Aircraft
First experimental ultralight/LSA manned demonstrator now planned for 2013 - see AOPA online
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Images by Adrian Mann © FanWing Ltd. 2011 |
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July 2011
FanWing Modified TwinTail 2011
Proof of Concept: New Efficiency, Speed Range, Stability
TwinTail FanWing Prototype - Flight Test July 2011 **
Recent FanWing development has been based on a collaboration between FanWing inventor Pat Peebles and former BAE Principal Concepts Engineer George Seyfang. Following two series of wind-tunnel tests and analysis from January-June 2011 the newly modified TwinTail prototype was first flight tested June 18th and most recently July 16th 2011.
The twin tails avoid the strong downdraft immediately behind the rotor-wing and simultaneously exploit the updraft from the wingtip vortex. The new development is based on an original suggestion from Seyfang and continues to improve efficiency, speed and stability with the FanWing now capable of reaching speeds of over 70 km/h.
The lower end of the flight envelope (performance at low speeds) was also tested with improved stability at between 20–30 km/h.
*° Photo shows onboard flow indicators (tufts) and angle-of-attack front sensor.
Royal Aeronautical Society Lecture
September 2011 Pat Peebles and George Seyfang will deliver a joint presentation at the Broughton Airbus Lecture Theatre UK at the invitation of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Chester.
Venice Council of European Aerospace Societies Conference
October 2011 George Seyfang will present a paper on the FanWing to the CEAS Conference in Venice.
First Flight Test of Modified TwinTail FanWing, June 2011 - flight video
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September 22 2010
FanWing Next Generation
Proof of OHS Concept: First Flight Test Completed
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New Concept, New Collaboration
Pat Peebles has recently confirmed a new phase of FanWing development with a radically modified design to increase efficiency. The new experiments are based on suggestions by former Principal Future Concept Engineer for BAe Warton, George Seyfang.
Seyfang, previously involved in major BAe projects including the Typhoon, the Harrier and the Concorde, has for many years been interested in potential heavy-lift aircraft solutions. Now working independently, he contacted Peebles early this year with suggestions including speed maximization and also increase of efficiency based on the theory of 'Outboard Horizontal Stabilisers'. (The OHS configuration uses the updraft from the wingtip vortex.) Following a series of discussions and a non-disclosure agreement, Peebles and Seyfang have now made development plans for a new private collaborative project.
Preliminary OHS
concept feasibility flight tests carried out in July in the UK were already positive
and now Peebles reports a successfully sustained test flight on the
completed new prototype with swift take-off and improved stability and
controllability. Peebles comments: "The onboard data logging will provide
details regarding efficiencies, but so far as we can judge from this flight,
the new prototype seems to be flight performing beyond predictions."
Seyfang and Peebles will also work together on wing improvements for speed.
Wind-tunnel tests are due to start in October
Video footage of the newest test will follow shortly.
See Tim Robinson's Royal Aeronautical Society Blog for September 17: http://www.aerosocietychannel.com/2010/09/exclusive-fanwing-uav-spins-up-for-speed-test/#more-2675
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July 2010
FanWing flies at Farnborough Air Show
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| Photos by Andrew Kayes |
FanWing took part in Farnborough Airshow's first outdoor UAV/S flight displays July 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd. The technology demonstrator was flown by Tony Brock from the Paul Heckles School of Flying. Pat Peebles attended with associate Mike Bednall and with Andrew Thorndyke and Paul Hallahan from Frost and Sullivan.
The FanWing UAV as demonstrated at Farnborough is a modified version of the airframe that flew previously in Wales as shown on the home page of this site.
The flight zone was placed too far from the spectator area for professional coverage but an amateur video of the July 22 flight is now available on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc2RSuW1Mbw
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April 2010
Under commercial discussion this year in China, the US and Israel have been development and manufacture of unmanned and manned FanWing airframes for cargo and emergency aid delivery and unmanned airframes to be used for remote sensing in crop surveillance. Images of some of the projected applications under discussion are shown below.
A look at the future...
Cargo UAV 300 kg empty weight 600 kg MTOW wingspan:10m wingloading: 60kg/m2 rotorspan: 8m engines: 2x40hp flight speed: 40kt KIAS (60 @ 6,000m)
Sky Truck MTOW: 13,000 kg Take-off distance: 100m Cruise speed: 80 KIAS (120 kt @ 6,000m) Wingspan 22 m Cargo volume 36 m3 Engines 2xRR250
Images Adrian Mann © FanWing Ltd. 2010
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August 2009
Contact peebles@fanwing.com for business information and details of company representatives.
Wing/Rotor Design Developments
Early linear test flights on new rotor and wing-shape modifications show an unexpected rise in efficiency. Onboard measurements are limited but so far indicate up to 35 grams per watt where previous efficiencies were in the order of 29.
Hungary and Lithuania Conferences
FanWing inventor/developer Pat Peebles attended the Hungarian Institute of Aerospace Defence annual UAS conference in April as a guest to respond to questions regarding the opening paper and PowerPoint on the FanWing presented by UAS electronics authority Professor Imre Makkay. The presentation paper and PowerPoint had been previously presented by Professor Makkay at an international aerospace conference in Vilnius April 16, 2009.
Washington Meetings
Pat Peebles will be in Washington DC August 5-13 attending the AUVSI..
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December 2008
Steps towards commercialization
The FanWing company has recently moved from pure R&D into early-stage commercialisation. Now near finalising its first non-exclusive licensing agreement for production of a surveillance platform (the company in question has since disappeared off the radar...), the company is also in discussions regarding developments exploiting security surveillance advantages and potential heavy-lift efficiency and land-use advantages of larger short/vertical-take-off applications.
Pat Peebles, inventor of the FanWing, comments: 'The commercial turning point began in the summer when people from several countries could see for themselves that this odd machine flew with stability, clear control and very short take-off even at these still early stages. We continue to have credibility issues but it seems that a lot more people are looking at performance and potential now rather than appearances and traditional academic or establishment company provenance.'
A new spin on the rotors
Pat Peebles comments about new rotor modifications: ' The prototype flew well in its first public flight test in June, but those rotors were in fact not at optimum performance and I am continually modifying the design. The take-off and stability performance are as it stands apparently already commercially interesting but what excites me is that potential efficiency results once we move into development with full resources can only improve.'
New IP for vertical/short take-off and landing
The FanWing company has recently completed formal stages to take forward the most recent VSTOL patent, a modification in design to enable short or vertical take-off and landing, to National Phase in over forty countries.
Media
For most recent coverage see the video flight and interview, or for cover of the public UAV event and Farnborough see Armada International and Aerospace International. For a more detailed focus on the FanWing development see Aerospace Testing International for September/October.
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August 2008
FanWing STOL surveillance prototype exhibited at Farnborough
Following the first public demonstration flights at ParcAberporth in June (see items below) the company exhibited the commercial prototype UAV platform, aimed initially at urban surveillance roles, on the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) stand at the Farnborough Air Show. The filmed demonstration flight of this same model and interview with Peebles can be seen on the YouTube link below, or see Rob Coppinger's blog: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/flight-international/2008/07/video-exclusive-revolutionary.html
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UAV pilot Mark Easey at Farnborough Air Show with Pat Peebles |
