How fast would you like to cruise?
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Interesting you should mention a sych release as I was thinking of the same sort of mechanism but didn't put it in my reply. Such a release could be very usable as often it's not that folding blades are strictly necessary but the ability to move them is if they can't be folded. One can get quite a fair number of machines in a fairly small space when combined with castoring wheels. The ability to attach a [portable electric] ground dolly to one or more wheels or having motors in the wheels (though that would add weight) might make such dense parking a one or two person operation.
Bob
Bob
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Thanks for the response to this thread guys. 
Shawn, i agree that if you build a better mousetrap the world will beat a path to your door.
Relyon, that is a good practical perspective.
So the hypothetical high speed helicopter should aim for 300-400 miles (with IFR capability), not compromise it's ability to land (and be parked) in tight places. The outlay cost could be marginally higher than a conventional helicopter, and operational cost (per hour) could increase proportionately with speed. Also the payload capacity should not suffer unduly, by allowing some overall weight increase, but we only really need consider up to 250Kts.
Hmmm, difficult spec. Perhaps i should concentrate more on what size of payload would benefit the high speed. The unstated assumption is that the machine should ferry passengers, but would point-to-point cargo be a better approach? Should the machine be sized to suit EMS and SAR requirements?
Does anyone have any thoughts about the size of machine which should be first targeted?
Shawn, i agree that if you build a better mousetrap the world will beat a path to your door.
Relyon, that is a good practical perspective.
So the hypothetical high speed helicopter should aim for 300-400 miles (with IFR capability), not compromise it's ability to land (and be parked) in tight places. The outlay cost could be marginally higher than a conventional helicopter, and operational cost (per hour) could increase proportionately with speed. Also the payload capacity should not suffer unduly, by allowing some overall weight increase, but we only really need consider up to 250Kts.
Hmmm, difficult spec. Perhaps i should concentrate more on what size of payload would benefit the high speed. The unstated assumption is that the machine should ferry passengers, but would point-to-point cargo be a better approach? Should the machine be sized to suit EMS and SAR requirements?
Does anyone have any thoughts about the size of machine which should be first targeted?
Last edited by Graviman; 7th May 2008 at 22:50. Reason: Reread the thread - there are some very useful comments there...
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I guess a question that should be asked is - does it need to be a helicopter? There were lots of interesting concepts tried in the 50's and 60's that withered on the vine because the technology wasn't ready. Which of those should we re-visit?
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That's a fair question, Shawn. I imagine that rotodyne will be a favourite, although tip jets would not meet emissions or noise regulations in place now. Are you considering more autogyros or STOL fixed wing? In fairness to Nick, we should not overlook the potential of tiltrotor for STOL, despite it's high disk loading for VTOL.
Perhaps another question should be: how much more would i willing to pay to minimise my runway length?
Perhaps another question should be: how much more would i willing to pay to minimise my runway length?
Last edited by Graviman; 8th May 2008 at 08:34. Reason: Typo.
I'm thinking about a million miles per hour.
The take off and landings are the fun part.
I recall flying in the bush how much I hated ferry flights, but get me on some job with a take-off/landing, or at least a cycle (slinging/bucketing) every five to ten minutes, I'd be happier than a pig in ...well...you know....
...and here I am flying 200 mile legs offshore.......
The take off and landings are the fun part.
I recall flying in the bush how much I hated ferry flights, but get me on some job with a take-off/landing, or at least a cycle (slinging/bucketing) every five to ten minutes, I'd be happier than a pig in ...well...you know....
...and here I am flying 200 mile legs offshore.......
