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by The Commonwealth of Norrs. . 73 reads.

Víkingur bG.16 Vampíru


Víkingur bG.16 Vampíru

bG.16 Vampíru

Role

Tilt-Rotor Utility Aircraft


Place of Origin

Norrs

SERVICE HISTORY

Introduction

13 June 2017


Status

In Service


Primary Users

Commonwealth Army
Commonwealth Navy Fleet Air Arm

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Manufacturer

Víkingur


First Flight

19 March 2000


Unit Cost

US$30 million for bG.16A


Produced

2016 — Present


Variants

V1520B
bG.16A
bÁ.16
bS.16B
(b)G1V / B1V
see Variants


The Víkingur bG.16 Vampíru is a tiltrotor utility aircraft developed by Víkingur for the RCA. It is designed as a multi-mission utility vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. An additional navalized variant was developed for the Commonwealth Navy's Fleet Air Arm, the (b)G1V Geirfugl.

The Vampíru was developed in response to the need for a faster utility aircraft in both the Army and Fleet Air Arm, particularly after the fielding of tiltrotors by the Alteran Air Force and Navy. The tiltrotor design was meant to match the Ministry of Defense (MoD)'s requirements for a long-range, high-speed aircraft capable of vertical landing. The prototype, V.1520B, first flew on 19 March 2000 and began flight testing and design alterations due to the complexity and difficulty of being Víkingur's first tiltorotr aircraft.

The Commonwealth Army Air Corps began crew training for the V.1520B in 2010 and fielded it in 2017, where it supplemented and then replaced the Dahl ŢG.20. The Commonwealth Navy Fleet Air Arm then began fielding a variant of the bG.16, the (b)G1V Geirfugl, for use on its carrier. The (b)G1V is planned to be replaced by the B2V Hrimfaxi.

Design


The bG.16 is designed for a cruising speed of 280 knots (520 km/h), a top speed of 300 knots (556 km/h), a range of 2,000 nmi (3,704 km), and an effective combat range of 500 to 800 nmi (930 to 1,480 km). Maximum takeoff weight is around 14,000 kg. A major departure from traditional tiltrotors of Altera and other nations, the bG.16's rotors and drive shafts tilt independent of the engines, which remain fixed. Additionally, a driveshaft runs through the wing to connect both engines, allowing operation of both rotors only one engine operational. The bG.16 utilizes retractable landing gear, a triple-redundant Fly-by-Wire system, and a V-tail configuration. The bG.16 has a crew of four and is capable of transporting up to 14 troops. Cargo hooks allow it to have a lift capacity of 4,500 kg while flying at a speed of 150 knots (280 km/h). The wings have sufficient clearance as to allow troops to easily egress out of the side doors and for the gunners to have wide fields of fire.

Like the Blackhawk, the bG.16 is designed as a utility aircraft first and foremost, but has modifications and variants that allow it to carry considerable weapon payloads.

The bG.16 prototype, the V.1520B, is powered by two Merki HT.7000 turboshaft engines. The V-tail structure and ruddervators, manufactured by NFHF, will provide higher levers and maneuverability and control, and will be made of a combination of metals and composites. Special emphasis had been made on using composites to reduce the weight of the bG.16 in comparison to aircraft like the VT-15. Honeycomb-sandwiched composites have been used extensively in skins and ribs with carbon cores for larger and lighter parts. As the bG.16 has lower disk loading in comparison to the VT-15, it is expected to have better hover efficiency. Additionally, the lower disc loading allows it to perform an autorotation, much like its similarly sized cousin, the B2V.

Variants


V1520B Prototype

V1520B is the in-house name for the bG.16's platform, as well as the general name for the prototype series of the bG.16. Only 4 were built, (Nicknames Hrímfax, Skínafax, Gullnafax, and Hálka) which served as the testbed for the later bG.16 designs.

bG.16

The bG.16 ("VTOL Utility model 16") is the primary variant of the Vampíru series tiltrotor. They serve a similar purpose to the UH-60 Blackhawk or UH-1H Huey utility helicopters, having similar mission parameters, and more. The bG.16B is also considered the same as the bG.16A, with the only major difference being the inclusion of a more potent armament.

Sub-Variants

  • bÁ.16 Pit Viper — Attack variant of the bG.16. Features a triple-barrel 30 mm rotary cannon as well as mounts for guided ordnance in pods located on either side of the fuselage, occupying the space that would otherwise be occupied by a troop compartment on the bG.16.

  • bS.16B — "Special Mission" variant. It includes a weapon rack similar to those found on the MH series of blackhawk, along with the necessary integrated firing systems.

(b)G1V / B1V

The B1V, formerly called the (b)G1V up until 2020, is the naval variant of the bG.16A. It allows the blade of the aircraft's rotors to fold up into a storage position, allowing the aircraft to be more easily stored. Additionally, the drive shaft connecting the two wings features a quick disconnect point halfway between the engine and the center of the aircraft, allowing it to be disconnected and for the wings to be folded. The B1V features two sub-variants, the B1V-1 and B1V-2, utility and Anti-Submarine Warfare respectively.

Sub-Variants

  • B1V-1 — Standard utility variant of the B1V.

  • B1V-2 — Anti-Submarine Warfare / Maritime Patrol variant of the B1V. It replaces the troop compartment with equipment for sonar dips and air-launched torpedoes. The B1V-2's two torpedo hardpoints can be replaced with Anti-Ship Missiles such as the Harpoon or NFHF Naval Strike Missile.

Specifications


V1520B Variants

Model

bG.16

bÁ.16

bS.16B

B1V-1

B1V-2

Cockpit Crew

Two

Add. Crew

Two

— —

Two

One

Capacity

Fourteen

— —

Fourteen

— —

Length

15.4 m

Height

7 m

Wingspan

24.93 m

Typical Cruise

280 kn

Powerplant

2 x Merki HT.7000 turboshaft

Max. Thrust

14,000 hp (7,000 each)

Propeller Diameter

10.7 m

Ferry Range

2,100 nmi

Combat Range

500—800 nmi

Armament

2 x VB.60 machine gun on door mounts

1 x Fs.12 tri-barrel 30 mm rotary cannon
4 x ordnance pylon on 2 x wing mount

2 x VB.60 machine gun on door mounts
2 x quad mount

2 x VB.60 machine gun on door mounts

2 x root mount on fuselage for air-launched torpedo or AShM

Operators


  • Commonwealth Army — Norrs (bG.16A / bÁ.16 / bS.16B)

  • Commonwealth Navy Fleet Air Arm — Norrs (B1V-1 / B1V-2)

Liveries


V1520B Variants


Víkingur bG.16A of Norrs Commonwealth Army Air Corps


Víkingur bÁ.16 of Norrs Commonwealth Army Air Corps


Víkingur bS.16A of Norrs Commonwealth Army Air Corps


Víkingur B1V-1 of Norrs Commonwealth Navy Fleet Air Arm


Víkingur B1V-2 of Norrs Commonwealth Navy Fleet Air Arm


Credit to Yuri Hunter & GlassOfGun for uploading the V-280 Valor to shipbucket, the base of which was used to make the bG.16s.

The Commonwealth of Norrs

Edited:

RawReport