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Old 2nd Jun 2005, 03:49
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Dave_Jackson
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good:
IMO, the tail-rotor has been the greatest obstacle to the successful utilization and propagation of rotorcraft. The V-22 tiltrotor and now the X2 coaxial should help relegate the tail rotor to its rightful place alongside the gyrocopter.

The Bad:
Lateral symmetry is the predominant characteristic of all living creatures and man-made vehicles, for obvious Darwinian reasons. The coaxial X2 is a significant move toward lateral symmetry. However, if fails to utilize the additional advantages that will be derived from laterally disposed main-rotors.

The Ugly:
If sixty years ago the German helicopter configurations had prevailed, or if thirty years ago Sikorsky had incorporated the recommended improvements to the XH-59A ABC I strongly believe that today there would be far, far more than one civilian helicopter for every half million people.



Edited to remove offensive smilies. Offensive language will stay.

Last edited by Dave_Jackson; 3rd Jun 2005 at 05:35.
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