Photo: 9news/Twitter
Back in the days when the world was living in constant fear of nuclear obliteration, crazy weapons and hardware were being devised. Among the many examples, the VZ-9 Avrocar, a vertical take-off and landing machine built by the Canadians for the U.S. Army (no kidding).
Avrocar’s shape, combined with the timing of its introduction, reminded most people of a flying saucer and the little green-gray men riding inside. Initially, the craft was supposed to be a fighter aircraft, but its role changed over the years, until the project was slipped under the rug by the military.
But the idea of a circular flying machine (or just about circular) is still around, it seems. And the latest incarnation of this idea was made public a few days ago at the China Helicopter Exposition in Tianjin.
The Chinese media calls this concept a helicopter and nicknamed it, for reasons unknown, the Super Great White Shark.
The display in Tianjin was a static one, showing what seems to be an empty shell of a potential fighting machine. CNN cites Chinese publication Global Times as saying this is an armed helicopter, to be used on future battlefields.
Design-wise, the White Shark is supposedly a blend between American and Russians helicopters, such as the AH-64 Apache, and Mi-26, but we simply can’t see the resemblance. Maybe that’s because the thing looks more like a donut that an attack helicopter.
It is precisely this shape though that should give the White Shark never-before-seen abilities in its class. With the rotating blades hidden inside the body, the helicopter should give out no radar signature, making it the world’s first invisible chopper.
When ready for deployment, the aircraft is supposed to be capable of carrying two crew members. The problem is no one knows if and when the Chinese military will bite the Great White Shark bait and actually find an use for it.
But the idea of a circular flying machine (or just about circular) is still around, it seems. And the latest incarnation of this idea was made public a few days ago at the China Helicopter Exposition in Tianjin.
The Chinese media calls this concept a helicopter and nicknamed it, for reasons unknown, the Super Great White Shark.
The display in Tianjin was a static one, showing what seems to be an empty shell of a potential fighting machine. CNN cites Chinese publication Global Times as saying this is an armed helicopter, to be used on future battlefields.
Design-wise, the White Shark is supposedly a blend between American and Russians helicopters, such as the AH-64 Apache, and Mi-26, but we simply can’t see the resemblance. Maybe that’s because the thing looks more like a donut that an attack helicopter.
It is precisely this shape though that should give the White Shark never-before-seen abilities in its class. With the rotating blades hidden inside the body, the helicopter should give out no radar signature, making it the world’s first invisible chopper.
When ready for deployment, the aircraft is supposed to be capable of carrying two crew members. The problem is no one knows if and when the Chinese military will bite the Great White Shark bait and actually find an use for it.
Chinese ‘#UFO’: #Helicopter dubbed ‘Super Great White Shark’ makes waves at #Tianjin airshow (VIDEO)https://t.co/z5TzlMhqMfpic.twitter.com/Ssb4bx2Vu3
— RT (@RT_com) October 10, 2019
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