Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T22:21:58.140Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Helicopter, The First of the VTOL Aircraft

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

Raoul Hafner
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

A survey is made in retrospect and prospect of the field of VTOL aircraft. The helicopter and the new VTOL aircraft, although historically separated and differing in appearance, belong to the same family of VTOL aircraft. The dominant parameter in this family is the disc loading, giving the two fundamental types of actuator disc—open disc or rotor and buried disc or fan. Noise and vibration criteria are discussed. The rotor is subject to fundamental aerodynamic limitations, which give speed limits for the pure rotor as well as the rotor compounded with a fixed wing. Rotors are subject to scale effects which limit the economic size of helicopters. Engine requirements for helicopters are discussed. There are three basic types of helicopter. Their characteristics, economics and uses are examined.

Type
Rotorcraft Section
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 65 , Issue 612 , December 1961 , pp. 815 - 829
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1961

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Hafner, R. (1954). The Domain of the Helicopter. Seventh Louis Bleriot Lecture, Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society, October 1954.Google Scholar
2.Hafner, R. (1955). Bristol Type 173, Design, Develop ment and Experiences. Journal of the Helicopter Association of Great Britain. August 1955.Google Scholar
3.Sutherby, P. F. (1956). Bristol Aircraft Ltd. Helicopter Aerodynamics Report No. 83. Initial Performance Study of the Bristol Type 199 Convertiplane. December 1956.Google Scholar
4.Irving, H. B. (1959). Helicopter Noise Suppression. The Journal of the Helicopter Association of Great Britain. August 1959.Google Scholar
5. Brochure on Bristol Type 192 (Series 2). SEB. 113. IssueGoogle Scholar
4.(Revised). August 1959.Google Scholar
6. Westland B.194 Helicopter. Brochure No. 221. Nov. 1960.Google Scholar
7.Fitzwillliams, O. L. L. (1952). The Giant Helicopter, Journal of the Helicopter Association of Great Britain. March 1952.Google Scholar
8. B.E.A. Standard Method of estimating “A” costs. November 1959.Google Scholar