Thread: Easy when you know how.

I'm wondering why 'Tip-Jet' rotors are not more popular, for both Gyros. (Fairey Gyrodyne). or even full time helicopters... Save weight AND. complications in a helo.

I'm pretty sure the tip jet rotors were monstrously loud and fell out of favour before they took off (pun intended).

It is commonly claimed by fixed wing pilots that helicopters can't actually fly.

They are so ugly that the earth repels them.

Originally Posted by cripesamighty

I'm pretty sure the tip jet rotors were monstrously loud and fell out of favour before they took off (pun intended).

Synchronising them in those days may have been fun as well.

Originally Posted by vnx205

It is commonly claimed by fixed wing pilots that helicopters can't actually fly.

They are so ugly that the earth repels them.

If that were true i would save a motza on shoe leather.

I was in a helicopter (Bell 47G) on one occasion in PNG when it happened to have dual controls fitted. Since he knew I was a fixed wing pilot, he let me have a go at flying it. It is quite different from fixed wing, with a substantial lag between applying control and it having any effect. Not for me thank you.

But it needs to be remembered that early fixed wing flyers went through a similar learning stage. One of the major obstacles was that before people started to actually fly, nobody knew how to fly, in the sense of being a skilled pilot. Furthermore, nobody knew what control type or capability was needed.

The fundamental reason the Wrights were the first to succeed was probably threefold:-

1. They learned to build and pilot gliders first, but with the intention of this being a route to powered flight.

2. They learned everything they could from previous efforts and especially studied aerodynamics and built a wind tunnel to test theories. And their propellers were very efficient since they applied this knowledge to them as well as the wings. Much of their aerodynamic knowledge came from Lawrence Hargraves in Australia.

3. They recognised the need for three axis control, including the interaction between roll and yaw, including the effect of increased drag on the outside wing when the lift is increased on it to roll.

Despite all this, their basic layout, with a canard elevator, contrarotating, chain drive pusher props, and rear rudders was a dead end.

And it is worth noting that several earlier attempts at powered flight could have been successful if piloted by skilled pilots. Although it is worth noting that probably something like 90% of aeroplane designs built between 1903 and 1914 either failed to fly at all, or crashed on their first flight (rarely killing the pilot, probably because they neither went very fast nor got very high).

Despite this, fixed wing aviation advanced remarkably in this period, mainly in France, and with little input from Wrights, other than the knowledge that it was possible.

I read, during my high school days, that had global communications been more advanced, an Australian (possibly/probably Lawrence Hargraves) could have been credited with the first flight.

It is quite different from fixed wing, with a substantial lag between applying control and it having any effect.

Never flown a Bell 47, but my old Hiller was a bit like that. Just dont try it in a Robinson R22, you may end upside down!