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Old 30th November 2001 | 23:28
  #13 (permalink)  
Nick Lappos
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Unfortunately, Lu is wrong yet again. A spinning wheel cannot counter the torque of the main rotor, because once the wheel is up to speed, it takes no torque to spin it, so it can't counter the torque of the main rotor. The main rotor is continuously making lift, so it has the drag that creates torque (torque is really rotating drag).

The fact that this silly spinning wheel concept can be considered by an individual is a mark of "technical unsophistication".

For MD600driver,
I hate to bear the bad news, but inside the tailcone of your nice little NOTAR helicopter is a perfectly fine tail rotor, with a gearbox, pitch change mechanism and driveshaft. It is based on a Eurocopter fenestron, which it strongly resembles. Also buried inside your tailcone is the nozzel mechanism, with its control links and the rotating barrel. Also, you have the required rudder stability system, and the rudder controls. In all, you have more parts, heavier weight, more failure modes, more power wasted, and a much poorer flight envelope. Other than that, it is a fine idea.