I frankly don’t see how Tilt-Rotor is “more complex” than other advanced rotorcraft, and so far it’s been more successful.

hotrod, the tailring is ducted, so it can be channeled or increase/decrease power coming from it, so the noise and “blowing things everywhere” is manageble. currently the only negative thing to come from the modified sh-60 is it’s weight placement: it’s rear heavy, all the added weight is added to the helo’s center of balance and the tail, nothing added to the front. i remember seeing a video of it’s first flight and watching the tail bouncing on the pavement. the engineers are trying to solve the problem by moving the rotor a few feet back. but in time we will see how well it works out.

although i do know they are fighting with the pilot (common case) where the pilot wants to fly it to much, and it will stress the aircraft especially since its unfinished. but seeing it fly is neat regardless.

And I still don’t think it REALLY has a purpose apart from being very groovy looking. By the way, is there any news on how the CSAR-X programme is progressing?

as a side note, they have started working a similar design into a h-1 in hopes of getting the marines to buy into this as well seeing that the army has a large interest already.