I'm not aware of any tip-jet helicopters that have made it into production. Please correct me if I'm wrong. At first the idea seems a no-brainer, no torque to counter, no gearbox, should result in a lighter & thus more efficient aircraft. I suppose the devil is in the details. Is the problem with...

aluminum control tube failed causing helicopter crash. The helo had an anodized aluminum control tube that failed in fatigue with less than 400hrs. The loading was low producing stresses in the area of 460psi. Discussions with anodizing folks say "Never anodize flight critical components" ...

I'm just having more fun than should be legal and it probably isn't if I look far enough into the County, State and Federal statues, but I am never-the-less. I have pretty much followed the Cafe numbers for header length and the 4-into-one collector. Keeping in mind friendship to my...

This afternoon I had the oportunity of flying to someone who own a rotorway. So I came with my safari there 30minutes flying from my house and we decide to exchange one hour. I flew one hour with the rotorway and was impressed by the speed it rapidly build. Control command are nice and don't need...

Hello I am a 32 year old private fixed wing pilot. An army recruiter promised to get me into Fort Rucker if I joined. Here is the problem - after the boot camp I will still be an E3, to go to WOFT one must be an E5 or better. Question-- can they put in my contract that I am going to Fort Rucker...

Hello NG, I'm looking for the type of helicopter, that was the original for the "Airwolf" of the movie. IMHO it was a "Bell", but how it's exact name of this model? How can I find some pictures, especially a blueprint? Greetings from Germany Sven

If an over weight pilot exceeds the recommended seat weight of his helicopter, will this affect undersling enough to cause an increase in the 2/rev vibration??? Does increasing G forces cause an increase in 2/rev?? Stu

Running from September to September… That IS the real year after all isn’t it? The second annual Legacy of Speed Unlimited Air Racing calendars are even BIGGER than last year! Legacy of Speed celebrates the history of Air Racing with images spanning 62 years of the worlds fastest motorsport....

"You'll be seeing more and more of me as we get closer to the caucuses," he said. "Hopefully I'll be able to convince almost all of you to go to caucus. I really do want your support." The former Massachusetts governor, who had irked some Iowans by paying little attention to the state for much of...

Here's a pic of their blades layout: http://batman.mech.ubc.ca/~hph/thunderbirddesign.gif (note the blade rotation arrows) What I'm wondering about the blades: - Why the odd taper? I'm guessing the taper alleviates tip losses, but why does it begin at the ~.6 span mark? I'd expect taper across...

We operate floats on all our Jetrangers and our 407. For a 206BIII, I think the weight difference compared to high skids is about 75lbs. As for an effect on airspeed I'm not so sure because I'm on the maintenance side of the company. Yet I figure 5-10 knots. If you want some precise numbers I...

I'm looking for a used copy of Ray Prouty's More Helicopter Aerodynamics. Also for the copy titled Even More Helicopter Aerodynamics. These issues are required for a research project I'm doing for the Experimental Helo magazine. Thanks

I heard, somewhere, that if you apply full carb heat and then immediately lower the collective (on R22s and 44s)this can cause the engine to run rough and in extreme cases can even cause engine failure.I s there any evidence for this or is it just a silly rumour? I have, up until now, always pulled...

These are supposedly true conversations, but who knows? Dennis. ======================================================= While taxiing at London Gatwick Airport, the crew of a US Air flight departing for Ft. Lauderdale made a wrong turn and came nose to nose with a United 727.

Mark Twain Said: No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the congress is in session. Ben Franklin said: They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

A spokesman for the Justice Ministry, Adel Saeed, said the men had been arrested by the police on Monday "for throwing Molotov cocktails from atop the A.U.C. building" approximate Tahrir Square, the epicenter of Egyptian protest. The university has a university close the square with several cheap...

I've coined a new acronym that stands for a principle often used in the experimental helicopter community. I have named it NHFY. It stands for None Have Failed Yet. It is a reliability measurement used by some that certainly needs close examination to ascertain the validity. Some folks who...

I have seen a few Bell 47's lately and they look cool. Does anyone out there on this group own one? I hear that the model G or G2 is a good one and they sell pretty reasonable. How fast are they? How about altitude performance. Can a guy land them at 10,000 msl with a couple people on board...

Time-Warner corporate is dropping usenet news as of June 23, 2008. Please help by asking them to keep it. The person to call works for the TW president: Barbara Burroughs phone 203-351-2281 email: ** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

Would a gyro with a swashplate ( just for pitch control) fly any different (better,worse) than using a tilt type rotor head? Just more complex? Also, I've seen some photos of early kit helicopters that appear to have just a tilting head (no way to auto-rotate ?). Isn't this a bit of a death wish?...