R44
I instruct on Bell 47's, Schweizer 300's and now R44's as well. I have a question about the pendulum effect of the R44. It sways around a lot particularly in gusts and on landing. I suppose you get used to it. My question is: the yoke is fairly small so I can see the reason why there is a long mast and a lot of distance from the top of the mast to the bottom of the helicopter. Why not make the yoke bigger like the Bell 47 and shorten the mast? In that way the pendulum effect would be greatly reduced wouldn't it? The proximity of the tail boom to the rotor isn't the issue is it? I can't see why as other helicopters don't have that problem. If the yoke was larger wouldn't that reduce the mast bumping issues of the Robinson's as a desirable side effect?