The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is beginning to pore over ideas that someday would be incorporated in new generations of vertical-flight aircraft. The agency, which spearheads the Defense Department’s efforts to foster new technology, is asking research groups to submit their ideas to https://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/DARPA-BAA-13-19/listing.html. In making the announcement, DARPA pointed to the advantages of helicopters – ability to land in unprepared areas, move in any direction, hover while holding position. As such, they are often ideal for troop transport, surveillance, search-and-rescue, or special operations missions. Nevertheless, helicopters are slow and susceptible to enemy attack. Improvements in vertical take-off aircraft have not kept pace with those of fixed-wing aircraft, according to DARPA. "For the past 50 years, we have seen jets go higher and faster while VTOL aircraft speeds have flat-lined and designs have become increasingly complex," said Ashish Bagai, DARPA program manager. "To overcome this problem, DARPA has launched the VTOL X-Plane program to challenge industry and innovative engineers to concurrently push the envelope in four areas: speed, hover efficiency, cruise efficiency and useful load capacity."
