Is a tail rotor really needed?
This has been floating in my slowly diminishing grey matter for a few months now, so if I share it with you folk out there perhaps I may get an answer that will help me.
We all know the tail rotor is there for the countering of applied power and to control the tendency for the Heli to act like a gyroscope, but could this be replaced by a counter spinning flywheel mounted on the main rotor shaft, that could/would be controlled by a clutch/brake like system. In my mind this would act as a counter measure to the energy of the spinning main rotor and G/box , as though it was a contra spinning rotor but without the complexity's of a second rotor and control rods and systems.
I realise it may sound very agricultural what I am asking, but I know that this does work on a ground operated machine, where a huge spinning drum(the main rotor on a heli) is controlled by a counter spinning flywheel which controlls the energy required to do its work, and acts as a shock load absorber.
Can you people out there say if this has ever been tried, or even whether you feel it would work.
My regards, and have a nice weekend
PRB