The report documents the findings of a variable diameter rotor systems concept study which Sikorsky Aircraft performed. The objective of the study was to investigate the various schemes proposed for variable diameter rotors for compound helicopters, to determine the merits of each, and to conclude which is most promising. Three basic types of variable diameter rotors were investigated, classified by the type of rotor blade construction: telescoping rigid blades, folding rigid blades, and flexible blades. Examples of each of these were adapted to a large compound helicopter design. All aircraft were sized to perform the same mission and a quantitative analysis was performed which rated each design on overall system cost effectiveness.
Variable Diameter Rotor Study
1972
226 pages
Report
No indication
English
Aircraft , Helicopter rotors , Experimental design , Aerodynamic characteristics , Production , Flight testing , Cost effectiveness , Performance(Engineering) , Loading(Mechanics) , Hovering , Flexible structures , Thin wings , Variable diameter rotors , Compound helicopters , Telescoping blade rotors , Rigid blade rotors , Folding blade rotors , Flexible blade rotors , Stowed rotors
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