Proteus

In 1999, Scaled Composites' Proteus aircraft was adopted into NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program. This unique tandem-wing, twin-engine aircraft was designed by famed aircraft designer Burt Rutan and built as a privately funded venture at Scaled's development facility at Mojave, Calif.

The aircraft was named after the Greek mythological god Proteus, because like its namesake, the aircraft can be reconfigured to carryout a variety of missions. These include serving as a high altitude, long duration telecommunications relay platform, reconnaissance/surveillance, commercial imaging, launching of small space satellites, atmospheric sampling and Earth monitoring.

Flight testing of the Proteus began in September 1998 at Mojave Airport and continued through the end of 1999.

Under NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) project, NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center assisted Scaled Composites in developing a sophisticated station-keeping autopilot system and a satellite communications (SATCOM)-based uplink-downlink data system for Proteus' performance and payload data.

Flight testing included the installation and checkout of the autopilot system, including the refinement of the altitude hold and altitude change software. The SATCOM equipment, including avionics and antenna systems, was installed and checked out in several flight tests. The systems performed flawlessly during Proteus' deployment to the Paris Air Show in 1999.

In May 2000, the Proteus demonstrated continuous "over-the-horizon" (OTH) command and control capability from a remote ground control station at Mojave, Calif., while flying more than 200 miles north of where the station was located.

In October 2000, Proteus set three international aviation altitude records. The craft reached a peak altitude of 62,786 feet and sustained horizontal flight of 61,919 feet. On a second flight, Proteus reached a peak altitude of 55,878 feet while carrying a 1,000 kg (12,200 lb.) payload. All three records were set for aircraft with gross weights of 12,500 lbs. or less. NASA Dryden supported Proteus' altitude-expansion flights by providing full pressure suits for the pilots through the ERAST project and helped fund the effort as part of its evaluation of the Proteus as an airborne platform for high-altitude atmospheric science and remote sensing missions.

In recent years, NASA Dryden has contracted with Scaled Composites to fly Proteus as a testbed for a variety of technologies related to maturing unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) for use in civil applications.

A small Airborne Real-Time Imaging System (ARTIS) camera, developed by HyperSpectral Sciences, Inc., under ERAST, was demonstrated during the summer of 1999 when it took visual and near-infrared photos from Proteus while it was flying high over the Experimental Aircraft Association's "AirVenture 99" Airshow at Oshkosh, Wisc. The images were displayed on a computer monitor at the show only moments after they were taken.

In March 2002, Proteus served as a surrogate UAV controlled remotely from the ground during flight demonstrations of an active detect, see and avoid (DSA) system for potential application to UAVs out of Las Cruces, New Mexico. In each of 18 different scenarios, a Goodrich Skywatch HP Traffic Advisory System (TAS) on the Proteus detected approaching "cooperative" aircraft (those with operating transponders) on potential collision courses, including several scenarios with two aircraft approaching from different directions. The remote pilot then directed Proteus to turn, climb or descend as needed to avoid the potential threat.

In April 2003, a second series of flight demonstrations focusing on "non-cooperative" aircraft (those without operating transponders) was conducted near Mojave, Calif., again using the Proteus as a surrogate UAV. This time, Proteus was equipped with a small Amphitech OASys 35 Ghz primary radar system to detect intruder aircraft on simulated collision courses. The radar data was telemetered directly to the ground station as well as relayed through a satellite system installed on Proteus. A mix of intruder aircraft, ranging from a sailplane to a high-speed jet, flew 20 scenarios over a four-day period. In each case, the radar picked up the intruding aircraft at ranges from 2.5 to 6.5 miles, depending on the intruder's radar signature. Proteus' remote pilot on the ground was able to direct Proteus to take evasive action if needed.

Izvor: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Bert Rejtan [Burt Ruthan] je genije lik i verovatno jedan od najboljih danasnjih konstruktora. Znam da je svojevremeno napravio BD-5 mlazni avion koji ide dosta brzi, negde oko 500 na sat i kosta ispod 5000 dolara!! Ima i takodje izuzetnu knjigu punu nacrta kako da se napravi ultralaki avion od stiropora [naravno sendvic kompoziti].

Iskreno, do sad nisam cuo za Burta Ruthana, a na ovaj avion sam sasvim slucajno naisao.A za avion BD-5 sam malo istrazivao i svugde se vodi da je konstruktor Jim Bede.Evo prilazem slike njegovog aviona.Nadam se da pricamo o istom aviou ili mozda postoje dva aviona sa istim nazivom.

Uuupppsss- pre ce biti da sam ja pomesao tipove aviona...  E izem ti moderatora- odma da me smenite 

"Ko radi taj i gresi"   Zar ne

 

Evo jos malo fotki ovog "cuda" Obratite paznju na poslednju fotografiju.Evo i njenog objasnjenja:A test article dropped from the Scaled Composites' Proteus aircraft begins a slow rotation toward vertical, proving that the Trapeze-Lanyard Air Drop (t/LAD) method allows air-launching of rockets without the wings typically required to make the booster turn up towards orbit. A small parachute attached to the nozzle slows the rate of rotation. Three drop tests utilizing t/LAD were successfully conducted in May and June, 2005.