Challis Heli plane

TomPPL · January 8, 2009

Here's something interesting a friend sent me recently, has anyone else out there heard of it?

heli.pilot · January 8, 2009

I had heard the name before, but that was the first time I'd seen its design. Looks interesting with just the one wing! Having a single wing like that must have some CG implications.

I would imagine that this would be cheaper than the X-2 design.

Edited January 8, 2009 by heli.pilot

coloheli · January 8, 2009

That is way cool. What class would that be? Semi-fixed Rotory Wing

charlicopter · January 8, 2009

Hmmm.... I think it's a fun idea for RC... But for a full sized helicopter, how would you deal with the intense vibrations due to such intense and well-developed RBS?

Can you believe the acceleration on that thing!?

PhotoFlyer · January 9, 2009

This design will not eliminate RBS, but it will delay RBS.

Put simply, the faster the A/C flies the more lift the wings (or wing) will produce. That lift will permit a lower pitch angle on the main rotor, thus delaying RBS.

If you designed this aircraft with enough wing to support the A/C fully (as a regular airplane does) then the only speed restraint would be that of a regular prop driven fixed wing aircraft. As it increased speed, more work would be taken away from the main rotor. Eventually it would be able to maintain a flat pitch (basically no lift) and RBS would be irrelevant.

TomPPL · January 9, 2009

Great reply there PhotoFlyer, thanks for posting..!

PhotoFlyer · January 9, 2009

Here is some more information about compound helicopters. It doesn't really talk about RBS, but it's some good information. Also look at the AH-56 Cheyenne.