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The Caelius Dynamics VT-10 Series is an is a twin-engined tiltrotor VTOL aircraft with a configuration similar to that of the VT-12 and VT-15 tilt rotor aircraft. It is capable of landing vertically like a helicopter while having a range and speed in excess of conventional rotorcraft. The VT-10 is aimed at the military aviation market - namely as a replacement for attack and reconnaisance helicopters - but also the civil aviation market, in particular VIP customers, intra-city aerial transport and offshore oil and gas operators.

The aircraft's purpose is to take off and land vertically, but fly faster than a helicopter. Although many nations would continue to utilise standard helicopters, several nations - including the Alteran Republics and Serpens Land - would push forward the development and introduction of tilt-rotor aircraft. The Alteran Defense Forces is one of a few militaries in the region that fully utilise tilt-rotor aircraft; acknowledge that the expense and maintenance costs outway the potential and practicality of tilt-rotors.

Design

The Caelius Dynamics VT-10 is a tiltrotor aircraft capable of performing vertical landings whereas conventional fixed-wing aircraft cannot, allowing the type to serve locations such as heliports or very small airports, while possessing twice the speed and the range of any available helicopter. Caelius Dynamics promotes the type as "...combining the benefits of a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft into one aircraft". The VT-10 appears to be outwardly similar to the civil orientated VT-12 as well as the military-orientated VT-15; however, the three aircraft share few components. Unlike the VT-15, the VT-10 has a pressurised cabin. As of 2013, multiple cabin configurations have been developed, including a standard nine-passenger layout, a six-to-seven-passenger VIP/executive cabin, and a search and rescue model featuring a hoist/basket and four single seats; medevac and patrol/surveillance-orientated variants have also been proposed. Light attack roles have also been developed, with both internal and external weapon racks and bays, as well as an Airborne Early Warning variant with a roof-mounted radar. For increased passenger comfort, the cabin is both pressurised and equipped with soundproofing. Access to the cabin is via a 35-inch-wide (89 cm), two-piece clamshell door centre-set into the fuselage underneath the wings, similar to the VT-12. Some designs have an alternative single door on the right-hand side of the aircraft; visibly seen in the prototypes.

The VT-10 is powered by a pair of Oakoms Accord OT.230 turboshaft engines, which each drive a three-bladed prop rotor. These engines possess roughly twice the horsepower of the similarly sized helicopter. Both of the engine and prop rotor pairs are mounted on a load-bearing rotatable pylon at the wing's ends, allowing the prop rotors to be positioned at various angles. In helicopter mode, the prop rotors can be positioned between a 75- and 95-degree angle from the horizontal, with 87 degrees being the typical selection for hovering vertically. In aeroplane mode, the prop rotors are rotated forward and locked in position at a zero-degree angle, spinning at 84% RPM. The flight control software reportedly handles much of the complexity of the transitioning between helicopter and aeroplane modes; automated systems also serve to guide pilots to the correct tilt angle and airspeed settings.

When flying in aeroplane mode, the majority of lift is produced by the VT-10's wings, which are slightly forward-swept. Both the wing and the main fuselage are made largely of composite materials. The 34-foot-long (10 m) wings feature flaperon control surfaces which are normally automatically controlled; in vertical flight, the flaperons drop to a 66-degree downwards angle to reduce the wing area being encountered by downwash from the prop rotors. A high-mounted rudderless vertical stabiliser is attached to the rear of the fuselage to stabilise flight while in aircraft mode. In the event of a single-engine failure, either engine can provide power to both prop rotors via a drive shaft; the VT-10 is also capable of autorotation. The VT-10 has been designed to develop Full Transport Category/Class 1 performance to operate safely even when flown under single-engine conditions. It is equipped with a de-icing system and is to be certified for flying into known icing conditions. Building on experiences with the VT-12 and VT-15, the VT-10 is retro-actively outfitted with a sink rate warning system.

Avionics include a triple-redundant digital fly-by-wire flight control system, a head-up display system, and Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADEC). The cockpit has been designed so that the VT-10 can be flown by a single pilot in instrument flight rules conditions. Several of the aircraft's controls, such as blade pitch, are designed to resemble and function as their counterparts on conventional rotorcraft, enabling helicopter pilots to transition to the type more easily. Elements of the aircraft's controls feature touchscreen interfaces. Shortly following the introduction to SLAe Systems and Wilcox-Ayers Aerospace to the programme in 20, substantial modernisation of the VT-10's design was initiated in 2012; these changes included new engines and the redesigning of the cockpit. As part of the design refresh, new flight management systems, SLAe Systems inertial and GPS navigation systems, and various other avionics from Alteran Aerospace and Oakoms Aerospace were adopted.

Variants

VT-10

The first production version of the VT-10 series. Designed as a side and rear loading aircraft. Typically used for search and rescue missions, intra-fleet transport and VIP transport. Can be upgraded to have weapons mounted on remote and human-operated points.

Sub-Variants

• VT-10 T - Civilian/military spec. personel hauler

• VT-10 TF - Outfitted for civilian/military spec. cargo hauler

VT-10 AT.1

Attack variant of the VT-10. Outfitted with a remotely operated 30 mm autocannon and mounting-points for missiles and rockets. The variant also includes a limited internal bay.

Sub-Variants

• VT-10 AT.2 - Second interation of the AT variant; comes with an extended internal bay and optional gatling gun.

• VT-10 AT.M - Maritime variant of the AT aircraft; fitted with anti-ship/submarine radar and weapons

VT-10 AEW

Airborne Early Warning variant; fitted with long-range radar, tracking and monitoring equipment. Used mainly by maritime forces to extend ship/fleet capability.

Specifications

Operators

• Alteran Air Defence Force - Alteran Republics (Attack / Recon, Tanker / Transport)

• Alteran Maritime Defence Force - Alteran Republics (Maritime / Anti-Submarine, Airborne Early Warning)

• Serpens Land Army - Serpens land (Attack / Recon)

• Royal Serpens Land Air Force - Serpens land (Attack / Recon)

• Royal Serpens Land Navy - Serpens land (Maritime / Anti-Submarine)
  

Liveries

Blank Caelius Dynamics VT-10	Blank Caelius Dynamics VT-10 T
Blank Caelius Dynamics VT-10 AEW	Blank Caelius Dynamics VT-10 AT
Blank Caelius Dynamics VT-10 AT.2	Caelius Dynamics VT-10 T of the Alteran Republics Air Defence Force
Caelius Dynamics VT-10 AT.1 of the Alteran Republics Air Defence Force	Caelius Dynamics VT-10 AT.1 of the Alteran Republics Air Defence Force
Caelius Dynamics VT-10 AT.M of the Alteran Republics Maritime Defence Force	Caelius Dynamics VT-10 AEW of the Alteran Republics Maritime Defence Force
Caelius Dynamics VT-10 AT.M of the Serpens land Royal Serpens Land Navy	Caelius Dynamics VT-10 AT.2 of the Serpens land Royal Serpens Land Army
Caelius Dynamics VT-10 AT.2 of the Serpens land Royal Serpens Land Air Force	--

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Merito non pareret. | By merit, not birth.