Thread: Gyro question
View Single Post
  #5  
Old December 21st 04, 11:29 PM
Dikkie Dik
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Many gyros have a prerotator. That is a link between the engine and the
rotor so the rotor can be sped up before you start the take-off run. For
this prerotator you want wheels with brakes and no swivel to take the
resulting moment (there's no tail rotor to take it). Other gyro designs
might not have a prerotator, but have the undercarriage layout anyway so
a prerotator can be installed later on.

The rotor brake actually gives you similar problems if you have
swivelling wheels.

news.starpower.net wrote:

I have a question:
(and the answer may be pretty basic)
We all know that you can't land a gyrocopter in a crab angle because you
might tip over. Why, then, don't they use castor type wheels, or some other
wheel setup where all wheels can swivel in any direction? I think that this
would allow the craft to roll in the direction of the momentum preventing
tipping over, but would it completely eliminate handling on the ground?
Could the rudder alone be enough to steer on the ground?

-Just wondering