To: Tail Bloater
Incidentally does the rotor system have flapping hinges of any sort?
The Prop Rotor has lead and lag capabilities as well as feathering and flapping. The entire Prop Rotor has this capability essentially because the hub is made of rubber much like the elastomeric feathering bearings on some helicopters. The hub acts as a constant velocity joint, which minimizes if not, eliminates lead and lag but still allows feathering and flapping. The hub, at least when I worked on the program, has flapping sensors which send a signal to the flight computer. The flight computer in turn signals the flight control servos to cancel out the flapping much like a pilot of a conventional helicopter would do when moving forward from a hover.
I personally believe the following. 1) The V-22 is in a hover condition for a low proportion of the flight envelope. 2) Most pilots fear the fly-by-wire system and instead of flying the helicopter forward they will tilt the pods forward several degrees. 3) The overall life cycle of the hydraulic system including the servos is predicated by the low use of the servos while in the helicopter mode. When in the airplane mode the servos are in a fixed position dictated by the pilot (Prop pitch) and are assumed to remain stationary in the selected position. 4) When the aircraft maneuvers the Prop Rotor will respond like a gyroscope rotor and precess. The flap sensors will sense this and will be in almost constant motion trying to correct this condition. 5) If the flap sensors do not respond quickly enough the rotors will precess and the thrust line will go off axis causing control problems.
Even if the control problem is not manifested the hydraulics will be working overtime reducing system reliability from what was guaranteed by the contractor.
IMHO
