Calstar Pilots Test-Drive Tail Rotorless Helicopter

[JT-112]

Isn't there an ultimate speed for rotorcraft as well?

 

[linuxwrangler]

Rotorcraft (FAA definition) includes helicopters, autogyros and gyrodynes. Anything with a main-rotor will have blade-speed issues that limit maximum forward flight speeds.

 

[radioprescott]

This being the case then how is yaw controlled, that is, enough to turn the aircraft?

The NOTAR system operates by forcing moving air out of slots located on the tail boom. The interaction of this air flow with the downwash of the main rotor is such that it creates a force that opposes the torque of the main rotor. While there are some complex aerodynamics involved, the general idea is to replace a spinning tail rotor with a jet of compressed air squirting out of one side of the tail boom. Varying the strength of the jet gives the pilot yaw control over the helicopter.

from http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/helicopters/q0034.shtml

 

[SCPD]

Thanks John! When I lived in Flagstaff from 1972-1978 I had a friend named John who was on the Flagstaff FD and moved to Prescott in the last 5-10 years. My friend John was a ham operator that worked CW on HF quite a bit. You wouldn't happen to be that John, or know of him?

 

[radioprescott]

Hi ex-Smokey

No that wasn't me. I was at Bullhead City Fire in 76 and moved steadily eastward (with a brief detour to Yuma) to finally end up in Prescott working in private EMS, and now for the County.

Have been an SWL since my teens, but not a "talker".