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Originally Posted by masraum
It took a minute for my brain to wrap around how that setup works.
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The two main rotors would have to be counter rotating in order for them to eliminate the tail rotor like they did, right?
K-Max Unmanned Helicopter | The Future Of Things | Science and Technology of Tomorrow
Advanced rotor designs break
conventional helicopter speed restrictions
A fast future awaits for rotorcraft with coaxial rotor systems and pusher propellers.
ROTOR SYSTEMS
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Intermeshing opposing rotor systems, as seen here on the Kaman K-Max, use 2 rotor heads with only 1 transmission. This system reduces weight and does not require a tail rotor system.
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The transmission, engines and external loads are directly beneath the rotor system, making for an excellent external load aircraft. The intermeshing rotors turn in opposite directions, so no tail rotor is required—this allows all power to be used for lifting.
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More speed, more lift, and no tail rotor.........................win, win, win.
Kaman K-MAX
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaman_K-MAX
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The Kaman K-MAX (Company designation K-1200) is an American helicopter with intermeshing rotors (synchropter) built by Kaman Aircraft. It is optimized for external load operations, and is able to lift a payload of over 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg), which is more than the helicopter's empty weight. A remote controlled unmanned aerial vehicle version is being developed and is being evaluated in extended practical service in the war in Afghanistan........................
............The unmanned K-MAX is competing with the Boeing H-6U Little Bird for the Marine Corps unmanned lift/ISR capability. Evaluations of the two helicopters were to begin in February 2014 at Marine Corps Base Quantico.[29]..........................
Thirty-eight K-1200 K-MAX helicopters have been built. As of February 2012, 13 of these were not airworthy or have been written off in accidents.[7] The production line was shut down in 2003, but may restart if the U.S. Marine Corps orders more autonomous K-MAXs.[8]
Beginning February 2014, Kaman is considering restarting the K-MAX production, having recently received over 20 inquiries for firefighting, logging or industry transport requirements additionally to requests for the military unmanned version.[9][10]
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ROTOR SYSTEMS
Boeing Little Bird
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_AH-6
The Boeing Hummingbird and Boeing Little Bird may have been transposed in that Wiki article, what do you think?