PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Would a flywheel work
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Old 26th Aug 2002, 18:30
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Nick Lappos
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No, because the flywheel does not develop a continuous torque to counter the main rotor torque. The torque balance relationship of the tail rotor does not have anything to do with Centrifugal effect.

Remember that the torque developed by the engines and transmission is the equivilent of you standing on the top of the helicopter pushing on the rotor blades to make them spin. Your feet are on the deck of the helicopter, pushing on that deck as you lean into the push on the blades. The blades turn one way because you pushed them with your hands, and the fuselage will turn in the opposite direction because you pushed it with your feet (if there were not all that friction with the aircraft on the ground).