Subject:
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Re: Human Powered Helicopter
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto
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Date:
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Sun, 8 Aug 2004 01:11:09 GMT
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Viewed:
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544 times
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> I can't help but think those blades look disproportionatley large for the
> size of guy who has to pedal the damn thing. :) But that's really awesome!
Even though he only has to spin the rotors at 6.2 rpm and the total weight of
all four blades is only 55.4kg, the sheer size of the “wing-span” is indeed
daunting!
> Love the counter rotating blades. No tail-rotor!
Ohh the co-axial rotors are just beyond sweet! I doubt I can sum it up any
better than folks at www.fas.org can, so I’ll just copy-paste:
“The coaxial counter-rotating rotor system negates the need for a tail rotor and
its drive system. Because of this, this aircraft is unaffected by wind strength
and direction, has an unlimited hovering turn rate, and gives a smaller profile
and acoustic signature, while allowing a 10-15% greater power margin”
(from http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/ka-50.htm)
I actually had a rather rare chance to see one of the Ka-50s in action at an air
show, and let me tell you what a difference! The typical deafening helicopter
“thumping” noise is nearly non-existent, and the only real noise signature is
the whooshing of the turbines and that’s only when the heli is heading away from
you.
That’s not to mention superior aero-performance and nearly foolproof
rotor-blade safety.
All of this said, would anyone actually happen to know why this technology seems
to be widely used only by the “Soviets” and only for military applications? Or
at least am I not aware of any commercial co-axial rotor designs.
Ivan
- No one reads these anymore.
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Message has 3 Replies:
 | | Re: Human Powered Helicopter
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| (...) I think there was also a small Canadian built UAV for the US Navy that used counter rotating coaxial rotors... (URL) even if not coaxial (ie, CH-47) there doesn't seem to be any any out there with counter rotating rotors. Maybe they started on (...) (20 years ago, 8-Aug-04, to lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto)
| | | Re: Human Powered Helicopter
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| (...) 6.2rpm?!?!? As in, about once every ten seconds? Huh. That's pretty slow. Hmm, looks like you missed something there. The "inner" rotor (which actually has more surface area than the outer rotor) spins at 6.2rpm, but the outer rotor spins at a (...) (20 years ago, 8-Aug-04, to lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto)
| | | Re: Human Powered Helicopter
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| (...) I think I hear my cue... ;] Those claims, out of context, are misleading/exaggerated. The aircraft is certainly affected by winds, just not in the same way or with the same unique problems as a conventional tail-rotored aircraft (although it (...) (20 years ago, 10-Aug-04, to lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Human Powered Helicopter
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| "Calum Tsang" <tsangc@mie.utoronto.ca> wrote in message news:I228rK.tty@lugnet.com... (...) size of guy who has to pedal the damn thing. :) But that's really awesome! Love the counter rotating blades. No tail-rotor! Iain (20 years ago, 7-Aug-04, to lugnet.org.ca.rtltoronto)
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