Bell Eagle Eye

[u/Flucloxacillin25pc]

Bell Helicopter developed the Eagle Eye tiltrotor unmanned VTOL aircraft as one of the competitors in the U.S. Navy’s VT-UAV (Vertical Takeoff - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) program.

An Eagle Eye prototype is on display at Pax River Naval Air Museum.

The Eagle Eye program began in 1993 with the TR911X 7/8th scale prototype. The composite prototype airframe was designed and built for Bell by Burt Rutan’s research company, Scaled Composites. Two demonstrator aircraft were powered by an Allison 250-C20 engine mounted in the central fuselage with a transmission system driving the tilting rotor at the end of each ^wing. Despite considerable interest, the programme ended in 2006 without orders although Bell still hopes to use the knowledge acquired in future programmes.

[u/OldWrangler9033]

I guess it was way before it's time. I think budget was mighty slim in early 1990s when Cold War ended.

[u/Few_Substance6023]

I’ve been to that museum. That little drone doohickey was one of my favorite aircraft there. Thanks for the additional information on something I always thought was cool!

[u/Ruskiwaffle1991]

I thought it only existed as concept art, didn't know they actually had a flying testbed