Dave, CEFOSKEY,
It sounds like we are all in agreement then about X2 being the best compromise configuration for this application.
Dave, you have a tendancy to take my comments personally - please don't. They are always intended to provide constructive feedback, and never intended as a putdown. As a design analyst, i am generally under pressure so am very used to providing a response that i feel accurately sums up the situation. If i comment that you would benefit from reading up on aerodynamics that is exactly what i mean, and i am in no way having a poke at your considerable general knowledge about helicopters. You have put together a great web-resource for helicopter design, and i enjoy the fact that you challenge current thinking. By accurate use of aerodynamic and materials terminology your arguements would carry considerable weight, which would make the "experts" have to think much harder to dismiss them.
Mart