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Old 11th May 2003 | 07:48
  #12 (permalink)  
Dave_Jackson
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Hi Nick,

You have provided me with as much information as anyone has. For that, I am truly appreciative.

But, for the pleasure of pushing the envelope, or pushing buttons, the following is offered.

Your 13-feet per second represents a crosswind of 9-miles per hour. Drag is based on the square of the wind's velocity, therefor a crosswind of 25-miles per hour will exert a force of 68 pounds.

Assuming that the tail-rotor is capable of delivering 4 pounds of thrust per horsepower, then the required power is ( 68 lbs / 4lbs ) = 17 hp.

The craft's gross weight to power is (11,700 lbs / 1600 hp) = 7.3 lbs per hp, therefor the weight loss is (17 hp * 7.3 lbs) = 124 lbs.

The craft's useful load is 4627 lbs., therefor the loss of payload is (124 lbs / 4627 lbs) = 2.7%.


Margin of error; +/- 2000%.
Sources of information; ~ Sikorsky. S76 ~ Drag.

Perhaps the advantage may not be significant for a single rotor helicopter; particularly if part of this VS is necessary to 'balance' the drag at front of the craft. For a helicopter, with dual laterally mounted rotors, which are in close proximity to each other, it might be a big advantage. This will be particularly true if the yaw is by opposed longitudinal cyclic.
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