Coaxial Rotor System: the future of helicopter design?
By Darren Quick
October 28, 2008
The CoaX 415T 5-seat helicopter is one of the models under development
Image Gallery (2 images)October 28, 2008 Helicopters featuring coaxial rotor designs are not exactly new. The co-axial design of a pair of rotors mounted on the same mast and with the same axis of rotation, but turning in different directions, has been utilized on a number of military helicopters for around half a century, most notably those produced by the Russian Kamov helicopter design bureau. The coaxial design offers a number of advantages over the traditional helicopter designs, which makes it difficult to understand why we haven’t seen co-axial rotor designs taking to the skies for civilian uses. Now Australian based Wieland Helicopter Technologies (WHT) is hoping to change that by designing and manufacturing a range of new coaxial rotor system small format helicopters for commercial markets.
Coaxial rotor designs allow for a more stable, more maneuverable, quieter and safer helicopter due to inclusion of a coaxial main rotor and exclusion of a tail rotor, which also means a smaller footprint. Coaxial rotor helicopters also provide a better power to weight ratio than traditional helicopters, produce greater lift and are also much more efficient.
We've recently seen the technology appear on the Sikorsky X2 demonstrator and now WHT is not only developing two and four seat models with combustion engines and 5 seat models with turbine engines, they are also working on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and smaller 1 and 2 seat helicopters with electric motor configurations. On top of all this the coaxial rotor helicopters are much easier to fly and therefore much simpler and cheaper to learn to fly.
WHT has complete, working prototypes on which development will be based and is looking for investors.
To check out a prototype in action click here or for further info visit Wieland Helicopter Technologies.
Darren's love of technology started in primary school with a Nintendo Game & Watch Donkey Kong (still functioning) and a Commodore VIC 20 computer (not still functioning). In high school he upgraded to a 286 PC, and he's been following Moore's law ever since. This love of technology continued through a number of university courses and crappy jobs until 2008, when his interests found a home at Gizmag. All articles by Darren Quick
Can you autorotate a helicopter of this design?
Craig Mclaughlin20th March, 2009 @ 01:27 pm PDT
Can you autorotate a helicopter of this design? I think the aswer is yes, although there is no need to have contra rotation on an auto gyro, as there is no counter rotation on the fuselage. The whole reason to have contra rotation is to do away with the tail rotor. Another benefit is a smaller rotor diameter.
windykites123rd July, 2009 @ 08:14 am PDT
looks like a good system, I particularily like the electric version
robinyatesuk200315th December, 2009 @ 04:40 am PST
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Does anyone remember the Kammand Helicopter the K-max? Small,Twin rotor, awesome design for heavy lifting.
The Navy looked at it (to replace the H-47 for ship to ship resupply) but it never happened. Even thought it was a much better design than was being used, taking up much less space than the larger H-47, it just did not happen.
I am unsure why. Politics? Range?
PrometheusGoneWild.com30th October, 2008 @ 05:36 pm PDT