I thought about background story...Welll that's it:
In 1984 , as we all know, there was very popular TV series about supersonic helicopter which crew was completing dangerous missions in different countries, with Cold War in background. This series is cult now, although little cheesy. But do we have to look at it as a kind of science fiction or more like series based on real thing?
We keep asking why development of AH-56 was stopped? Why Sikorsky X-wing was scrapped? What was wrong with design of LHX project before RAH-66? Lack of funds, technical difficulties and child-age problems were only reasons? No , the reason was different. Why trying to invent something that has been invented already? There is no need to do it, main problem is to connect inventions altogether. But it takes time to nail it…
Between 70 and 80, late evening in march, USAF C-5 transporter landed on Cyprus. After stopping, crew opened ramp and unrecognizable helicopter was loaded. Then C-5 was fueled and took off imediately. Not many were aware of what just happened. This day NORAD accquired Mi-24. Via number of paper-companies USAF put his hand on one of the fastest choppers in the world. For what? For testing? Indeed. For experiments? Of course, but not only. Mi-24 was acquired for “Company”. Yes, just “Company” it was only known name of secret R&D unit. It was under command of one man codenamed Gabriel. There is very little known about him. Officialy belonged to NORAD but there was a thesis that he he was co-working with CIA and above him was only president. Still, why “Company” needed Mi-24?
On 1st november 1981 after series of groung and aerial tests with USAF Mi-24 landed near Company’s workshop. It was pulled to hangar to never came out again.
Two days later on Company’s airfield landed an out-of service A-10. This airplane also for last time entered Company’ hangar. Same day documentation of AH-56 Cheyenne and Sikorsky X-wing arrived along with rotorhead and blades for last one. Pretty quaint collection – for what?
It took about 6 months. On 1 May 1982 hangar doors opened and uncanny creation was pulled out. It had front from A-10 with GAU-8 cannon, canopy was from Su-22. Fuselage came from Mi-24 but instead of windows of landing party section there was light composite armor. Engines powering main rotor were directly from Sikorsky X-wing, along with rotor, which could be stopped during flight. Then aircraft used rotor as main wing and behaved like normal airplane. Rotor engines exhaust were removed and placed on “hump” behind transmission. Tail rotor was removed. On fuselage were mounted two A-10 engines . One of them was specifically tuned – in helicopter mode thrust from it was always larger to decrease torque. Residual Mi-24 wings were exchanged for outer sections of A-10 wings. They had more hardpoints and were wider. With grey top and grey-white bottom Company’s creation was more than grotesque. Crew consisted two people , pilot in cockpit , in titan “cocoon”, behind him in fuselage was RIO and WSO seat. For test crew two Vietnam vets were chosen. After system tests half plane-half helicopter took off to hover few feets above ground. Hovering turned out to be like in every normal helicopter. During three-month trials Company’s team conducted whole series of transitions from helicopter mode to airplane mode and inversely in day and night. Weapons tests took place on firing range nearby. Test crew reported how new aircraft could be improved. One of the worst disadvantages was too small vertical stabilizer. In airplane mode steering was difficult because of delayed reaction for rudder. After redesigning this element crew ceased to complain and started to moderately commend new aircraft. It was beginning of unofficial service. It was used in covert operations when air forces could’t be deployed. Because of high speed and great flight characteristics crew fell in love with new aircraft.
Prototype was named “Skyhound”…but in was known under different one – Airwolf.
