Worthwhile discussion...
Correct me if wrong, but what Nick is getting at is that for helicopter to hover (or cruise) total lift must balance total weight. Ship rotates about it's cg until tail rotor thrust and main rotor lift vector sum to a vertical force above the cg. All the while the pilot is trimming the cyclic to keep references/string/ball in position. It's as Matthew says, a different perspective.
At a guess Comanche low tail rotor would hover left wing low, but with high vertical stabiliser would cruise right wing low. That powerfull bearingless rotor would then sort out any pitch attitude changes, from tail rotor cant.
Is it fair to assume centre of drag acts at similar position to cg?
Actually, designers often use tricks to get quick answers.
I'll revise my earlier posts appropriately...
Last edited by Graviman; 20th October 2007 at 09:36.