Agile Responsive Effective Support
The ARES, Scaled Model 151, was designed initially
in response to a U.S. Army request for a Low Cost Battlefield
Attack Aircraft (LCBAA). A design study was performed by
Rutan Aircraft Factory in 1981 for such an aircraft. The
original LCBAA design was for a pusher turboprop aircraft,
of generally the same aerodynamic configuration you see
here. It also was designed around a 30mm chain gun. Its
mission goals were low-altitude, close air support, with
long endurance, and with adequate field performance to operate
from roads. Its structure and systems were simple enough
to be maintained and repaired in the field.
Scaled followed up with the concept, and ultimately
decided to build a demonstrator aircraft with internal funds.
By the time construction started in 1986, the design had
evolved to the current configuration: a single Pratt and
Whitney Canada JT15D-5 turbofan engine (same as in the Beechjet
/ T-1A Jayhawk), and a GAU-12/U 25mm gatling gun.
The ARES first flew on February 19, 1990,
with Scaled test pilot Doug Shane at the controls. Since
that first flight, the ARES has flown more than 250 hours,
and demonstrated all of its design performance and handling
qualities goals, including departure-free handling at full
aft stick. During November of 1991, under a contract from
the U.S. Air Force, initial ground and flight (air-air and
air-ground) tests of the GAU-12/U gun system installed in
ARES were performed, with outstanding results.
Movie buffs may also remember the ARES villainously
portraying the secret ME-263 jet in the screen classic Iron
Eagle III.
Since its initial development, ARES has been
utilized for development of some unique, proprietary systems,
and is currently available for use as a research testbed.
Please call or email if you should desire further information
regarding this unique aircraft.
Click here to
return to the projects list.
