Scaled Composites Proteus

Type (Muster)
High-flying multi-mission platform (Höhenflugzeug für verschiedene Einsatzzwecke)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Scaled Composites Inc.
1624 Flight Line
Mojave, CA 93501-1663
USA

Phone: 001-805/824-4541
Fax: 001-805/824-4174
E-Mail: info@scaled.com

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2 + 1, on standby sleep cycle

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x Williams-Rolls FJ44-2E turbofans
Thrust (Schub): 2 x 10,22 kN (2300 lbs), or around 0,66 kN (150 lbs) at 65000 ft (19800 m)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 17,14 m
Height (Höhe): 5,33 m
Span (Spannweite): 23,62 m, or 27,94 m with tip extensions
Span of forward wing (Spannweite des vorderen Flügels): 16,64 m or 19,69 m
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 44,5 sq m total

Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 2,74 m
Max. cabin diameter (Kabinendurchmesser): 1,55 m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): ca. 2660 kg
Payload (Nutzlast): up to 3130 kg
Fuel (Kraftstoff): 2495 kg to 2858 kg
Take-off weight (Startmasse): 5670 kg to 6440 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Best range speed (Reisegeschwindigkeit): 351 km/h at 20000 ft or 518 km/h at 40000 ft
Rate of climb (Steigrate): 30 m/s at sea level at 3630 kg
Altitude (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 52000 to 64000 ft (15850 to 19510 m)
Take-off roll (Startrollstrecke): 220 m at 3630 kg or 430 m at 5670 kg
Endurance (Einsatzdauer):
   - 12 hours on station at 5670 kg take-off weight
    - 22 hours at 925 km from departure at 6440 kg take-off weight
    - 12 hours at 3705 km from departure at 6440 kg take-off weight

Costs (Kosten)
Scaled claims flight-hour ops costs of 520 to 715 US-Dollars

Customers (Kunden)
None yet. Angel Technologies has signed a preliminary agreement for certification and production of up to 100 HALO (High Altitude Long Operation) aircraft based on Proteus, potentially worth a total of 760 million US-Dollars.

Competition (Konkurrenz)
None

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The Proteus is touted by Scaled Composites as a high-flying multi-mission platform suitable for

commercial telecommunications relay services, circling over large cities. With an endureance of twelve hours, three aircraft would be needed to ensure 24 h coverage from about 60000 ft.
reconnaissance, possibly as an UAV
communications/data relay
atmosperic sciences, conducting continuous sample missions at high altitude
micro-satellite launch, with around 32 kg payload to low Earth orbit. A rocket would be lifted to 10365 m
space tourism, carrying a three-person sub-orbital spaceship to around 9750 m

Proteus is built in a modular fashion, with the mid fuselage dedicated as the main payload component. Due to the high landing gear, large external antennas (diameter up to 5,5 m) can be fitted. Also, wing tip extensions can tailor aerodynamic performance as needed.
First application will probably be a stratospheric broadband wireless service under developmentby St. Louis-based Angel Technologies, with Raytheon acting as systems integrator.
The Proteus first flew on July 26, 1998 at Mojave, California. Mike Melville was at the controls, and Matthew Gionta acted as flight test engineer for the 1 h 40 min flight, achieving an altitude of 3600 m and a speed of 185 km/h. Certification of an operational Proteus is targeted for 2001, although proof-of-concept trials could start as early as 2000, if enough investors are found.

Last updated 21 January 1999

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