Your post makes an assumption that the elastomer somehow contributes to the
energy used in a rotor, so that more elastic efficiency somehow makes a
better rotorcraft. Not true. Compared to the centrifugal forces that pass
through the bearing, its tiny spring forces are unmeasurable. Unlike an
insect's wings, the flexing of the bearings in a rotorhub is a tiny fraction
of the energy consumption, so any substance used in a bearing must be judged
by its durability, reliability and strength.

Gotta know its shear strength, durability and so on. Frankly, of all the
technologies we need to improve, the elastomers are some of the most durable
and resilient.


wrote in message
ups.com...
Researchers have managed to decipher the formula for making the insect
protein resilin:

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Article...Flea+power.htm

Resilin is reputed to give fleas their great jumping power, as well as
wing-flapping ability in flies and mosquitoes, among other things.

How well would resilin's superior elastic properties scale up for much
larger flying machines?

As an example, what about the idea of using resilin in making elastic
rotor bearings for simplified rotorheads on helicopter-gyroplanes?
Would it be useful or worthwhile to use resilin for this high-end
application?

Could resilin be used in inflatable structures for balloons or blimps?
Or even inflatable wings? What about parachutes?

Comments?