Originally Posted by
Copter Appreciator00
The Bell V-280 was always better than the Sikorsky SB-1, faster and more fuel efficient and smaller. BUT i wonder if the V280, which will be closer to battle spaces than the V-22, but i thought of an issue which made my spill my drink. The V280 will be the successor to the UH-60 and likely the UH-1Y, so it will fly and land closer to the enemy just as the black hawk did, so the likelihood of bullets strikes. WHAT IF, while in forward flight, one of the rotating mechanism for one of the two rotors systems was damaged by a bullet impact, and one of the rotating thing could not pivot - ??? If a helicopter gets hit, it can do auto rotate, or just lower its speed and land. But if the Valor gets hit in helicopter mode, it can land. I think the driveshaft is what tilts the rotor housing, but could the propellors be stuck in forward mode... is this a possible malfunction? What happens then, Valor can't land with the props forward..
I suspect that Valor will use the same methodology used by the V-22 if the proprotors can't be raised for whatever reason. If they are stopped in the 12-4-8 o'clock position, the blades don't hit the ground. If they are rotating, they are designed to break off at the hub and the direction of rotation is such that the blades are thrown clear of the aircraft.
Also be aware that autorotation is not always that gentle of a landing. That's why in training and testing helos are not required to demonstrate autorotation all the way to the ground.