Silencing Rotor Blades

[mmx1]

Some cool stuff coming out of Eurocopter:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/02/eurocopter-moves-one-step-closer-to-whisper-mode/

Maybe that stealth helicopter's a possibility after all.

 

[Rubiks06]

I am curious to see what this would do to torque requirements? In the grand scheme of things helos dont make near as much noise as say.....a hornet....or......PROWLER.....makes my ear drums bleed just thinking about it. Pretty cool technology though.

 

[lowflier03]

Actually the Japanese 60K has a similar design already implemented. It lowers torque requirements while also reducing noise. I think Sikorsky has done similar research with a few different designs over here.

 

[yakboyslim]

I'm actually doing a design project right now on a small (10 ft wingspan) Osprey-like UAV. Part of it was going to be making it quiet.

It was just weird cause I got on the internet to do actual work, got distracted by AW and ended up getting research done - on AW. One stop shopping.

 

[scoolbubba]

I didn't realize how much a 3-4 dB decrease is...I forgot volume is not linear. Pretty cool stuff. Now, if only they would make an APU that doesn't use sound to turn my eyeballs into jelly.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Dumb question......do larger/military helos have a rotor brake on them like the little Robinsons do?

 

[mmx1]

In the DoN they do for shipboard ops. Rolling deck + low-speed rotor = bad stuff. Dunno if the Army does.

 

[squorch2]

Some Army/AF helos do, most don't.

 

[Schnugg]

It can be done....see....

 

[exhelodrvr]

It can be done....see....

Yep - WHisper Mode!!

 

[Cron]

I came in here ready to make a Blue Thunder reference, appropriate screencap ready to go, only to see it was already done in the article. :icon_rage

Pretty neat though.

 

[highside7r]

Actually the Japanese 60K has a similar design already implemented. It lowers torque requirements while also reducing noise. I think Sikorsky has done similar research with a few different designs over here.

Army UH-60M is out with them on the new wide cord blades to increase lift, nothing to do with "sound".

 

[slug]

Yep - WHisper Mode!!

Funny you brought up Airwolf, which was a Bell 222, since Eurocopter has arguably eclipsed Bell in all aspects of light-weight, fast and advanced helicopter designs.

Course, I don't know, one day maybe mach 1 in a two-bladed, semi-rigid, underslung rotor system will be possible.

 

[Pags]

Dumb question......do larger/military helos have a rotor brake on them like the little Robinsons do?

And a gust lock! Which is for god knows what...(I think it's an Army thing).

 

[highside7r]

I'll take a rotor brake any day compared to a gust lock, but it's strong enough to keep the main rotor from moving. I have a list of things I wish the Army would buy/take off the Seahawks and add.