The Rotodyne Again

[hobby]

I found this video on the Rotodyne. I was surprised at the change in the way in which we speak English today(2007 cw1957!!)

What extraordinary decisions were made in those days. Wickepaedia has an interesting article on this aircraft.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9633v6U0wo

[DaveB]

An interesting video Hobby. Tks for posting it ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[migman29]

I see what you're on about Hobby.

It makes you smile when the opening credits come on(The Fairey Film Unit presents).

The controllers and pilots in those days were all "Jolly hockey-sticks"types.

I remember watching a documentary about the Empire Flying boats and how they brought news from home,something like "Baybeh hes a new tuth end the ket has kittns".

Brilliant,I love it.That's the days when pilots were syoopermen,houshold heroes and the public were very airminded.

Most unlike the drunken rif-raf that stagger aboard aircraft nowadays for their two weeks in Spain.

Miggers :dance:

[Vulcan_to_the_Sky!]

What a brilliant video, enjoyed watching it.

[Techy111]

Lovely old video....question ? Did the rotordyne have to keep those two wing mounted props turning when landing vertically ?

Anyone know?

Techy

[Kevin]

Techy,

I think it did. The Rotodyne was basically a giant autogyro, not a true compound helicopter. The rotor was driven by tip jets (ramjets) and the only engines on board were the two Napier Elands on the wings. While it must have been able to fly with one engine out, at least one engine (or perhaps an apu) would have been necessary to keep the essential services (electrics, hydraulics pneumatics) going.

Thinking further about this, if the aircraft was capable of a vertical landing with one engine out, it would have to have had a way to control yaw. A fully-reversible prop would do it, or at least one capable of "disking", and ideally it might have had this slaved through the rudder pedals & phased in via airspeed cue, a bit like the way the Harrier does with its "puffer gas" thrusters. Unless of course, it used Harrier-type thrusters.

A good question.

Cheers,

Kevin

[Techy111]

And a good answer.....thanks mate.

Techy

[Chris558]

Brilliant footage! Thanks for that. I've seen footage of it at Farnborough, but this was something else!

Look at how long it's taken to develop the Osprey, and all the trouble they've had with that.

Then look at how early we developed the (relatively) trouble-free Rotodyne...... and then just threw it away.

btw, another technical question: why do the tail fins move (hinge)?

[Chris558]

.......Ahh!! Just watched it again and the penny's dropped! It's so the rotors don't hit them when they're turning slowly and therefore drooping! :roll:

[FlyTexas]

Great video! I sure wish Alphasim would build a new FS2004/FSX version of the Rotodyne...complete with VC and some sort of virtual cabin. Alphasim, are you listening??

Brian