Gas turbine drive
A further daft question along this thread.
Can someone explain how the gas turbine in a light helicopter like an MD500 actually drives the main and tail rotors?
Is there a physical link via a reduction gearbox and a clutch that allows it to diconnect in the event of auto-rotation, or do the hot exhaust gases from the turbine act on a paddle type arrangement which is linked to the rotors, in the same way that some turboprops drive a propellor?