Originally Posted by
Dave_Jackson
True, the single main rotor and tail rotor has reached its maturity.
Now Sikorsky, and Bell with its tiltrotors, are moving into Generation II rotorcraft, which necessitates the use of twin main rotors.
Dave
However, I doubt that the single main rotor and tail rotor configuration will go away. As you add stuff that is good for speed, like pusher props & another entire rotor system, or tilt rotors, you are adding weight that is bad for hover. There is an axiom:
"What is good for high speed flight is bad for hover. What is good for hover is bad for high speed flight."
Now granted if you can invent your plastic rotors that change shape as they sling around, then you can scoff at that statement. But to whip out one more Igor Sikorsky quote:
Originally Posted by I.I. Sikorsky
"To invent a flying machine is nothing. To build it, little. To make it fly is everything."
-- IFMU