Note to editors:

This article is from one I was going to make several months ago in addition to others. It has been scaled down to be a post and not a feature. Also I part of why it never saw the light of day is because this is how it looked:

thats right, I had it and several other articles set up with the full Gizmodo webcode. however the flash component of several ads I kept for formatting totally wrecked every page and made it load forever.

DARPA, stands to Damn A-holes Reducing Pilot Authority.

Boeing, I have a bone to pick with you. This is the A160T, a unique rotorborne UAV that offers the capabilities of the Predator, in a package that hovers. Planned customers for this silent stalker are the Coast Guard and SOCOM. I see several problems with this. Hit the jump for more.

After the Jump...

The A160T has revolutionary performance for a helicopter, but the biggest problem is you can't sit in one. Whirlybirds have never been known for being fast, long-legged, and having long flight times. This one holds the world record for rotorcraft flight endurance, travels at a cruise speed in excess of almost all helicopters, can hover at 20,000 feet which is a near impossible feat for a helicopter(rotor blades produce much more lift whilst moving forward) all while doing it economically and quietly, two adjectives never associated with helicopters!

The Coast Guard wants to use its 1,950 mile range to patrol the coastline,(if it crashes and sinks in bad weather nobody onboard to rescue) the Army wants to use it for special forces resupply, and I want it so I can go Pew Pew Pew at 180 mph all day all the way from San Francisco to Houston before I need gas. Any further and we would be running into bladder-range limitations, but the point is this aircraft is an incredible helicopter, and you can't have it. Unmarketed for commercial use or application, I am disappointed that Boeing has chosen not to make the most utility of the advanced rotor system used in this helicopter by creating transport and attack models. While I'm not endorsing this as an Apache replacement, the conflicts today have made the Apache overkill; arm a small bird with some guided munitions and give it long endurance and you would have something more useful for Afghanistan and Iraq. The combat there is punctuated by long periods of inactivity punctuated by a need for quick fire support. This is why they transitioned from mostly Apaches patrolling to armed Predators and UAV's; practicality and economy. A Predator and the A160T can outlast manned aircraft, but for the same reasons why we don't have robotic Apaches, we would really benefit from building an A160T with a cockpit. The author has shown his (outlandish, admittedly. Center of gravity anyone?) concept for increased Pew Pew Pew and increased fun for humans, NOT ROBOTS.

UPDATE: can a robot helicopter fight grand theft auto style? I think not!

ever wanted to see a Kiowa warrior chase terrorists on a motorcycle? Pilot m16-while-flying-action.