Dave_Jackson
8th May 2008, 00:30
The Problem;
At the birth of rotorcraft in the US, Igor's simple VS-300 single-rotor helicopter (http://www.sikorskyarchives.com/vs-300.html) was in competition with the more technologically advanced Platt-LePage XR-1 symmetrical twin-rotor helicopter (http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/platt_lepage.php). The simpler craft won the contract, due to the government's desire for fast deliver.
The single-rotor configuration thereby became the predominant configuration.
The Dilemma;
How can anyone hope that the predominant Sikorsky will ever produce the superior symmetrical twin-rotor configuration?
To do so would be an admission that they were wrong in the late 30's, and, that they have perpetuated the error for 70 years.
At the birth of rotorcraft in the US, Igor's simple VS-300 single-rotor helicopter (http://www.sikorskyarchives.com/vs-300.html) was in competition with the more technologically advanced Platt-LePage XR-1 symmetrical twin-rotor helicopter (http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/platt_lepage.php). The simpler craft won the contract, due to the government's desire for fast deliver.
The single-rotor configuration thereby became the predominant configuration.
The Dilemma;
How can anyone hope that the predominant Sikorsky will ever produce the superior symmetrical twin-rotor configuration?
To do so would be an admission that they were wrong in the late 30's, and, that they have perpetuated the error for 70 years.