I know almost nothing on helicopters...

Hi. First post here.
Always got it in my head, decided to ask today...

What if the body of a helicopter was built shaped with some tilt, as a
"sail" or with a vertical controllable aileron by its bottom, or both;
in such way that the downstream air flow from the main rotor caused the
same anti-torque as a tail rotor?

Trying other words... If the tail of a helicopter was vertical thin
wing shaped, with a controllable aileron to counteract the main rotor
torque by deflecting some downflow sideways in the right amount, to
eliminate the tail rotor... would it work?

Would it be too shaky because of the main blades spacing ? Pardon if
my wording is not proper.
Miguel

Externet wrote:
Hi. First post here.
Always got it in my head, decided to ask today...

What if the body of a helicopter was built shaped with some tilt, as a
"sail" or with a vertical controllable aileron by its bottom, or both;
in such way that the downstream air flow from the main rotor caused the
same anti-torque as a tail rotor?

Trying other words... If the tail of a helicopter was vertical thin
wing shaped, with a controllable aileron to counteract the main rotor
torque by deflecting some downflow sideways in the right amount, to
eliminate the tail rotor... would it work?

Would it be too shaky because of the main blades spacing ? Pardon if
my wording is not proper.
Miguel

Tailbooms have been made with the wing shape you mention, and a
controllable aileron isn't necessary. The idea works but isn't enough, by
itself, to completely eliminate the tail rotor.

You probably would encounter different issues. One would be the
downward pressure on the fin would require a different rigging of the
main rotor that would limit forward tilt and airspeed. Another
consideration would be that it would become less effective or
ineffective in forward flight as less of the downwash would be
available for redirection to counter the torque effect. Above ETL most
light helicopter tail rotors are considered to be out of the rotor
downwash. And I think that simply using an airfoil or deflector alone
would not give you the amount of control that any of the current
antitorque methods provide.

The closest you can get is the NOTAR system developed by Hughes Tool
Co. Aircraft Division and currently produced by MD Helicopters (http://
www.mdhelicopters.com). Which uses the Coanda effect but requires
additional measures to ensure the boundary layer exists to get the
lift effect.

Linc

On Jan 19, 11:43 pm, "Externet" wrote:
Hi. First post here.
Always got it in my head, decided to ask today...

What if the body of a helicopter was built shaped with some tilt, as a
"sail" or with a vertical controllable aileron by its bottom, or both;
in such way that the downstream air flow from the main rotor caused the
same anti-torque as a tail rotor?

Trying other words... If the tail of a helicopter was vertical thin
wing shaped, with a controllable aileron to counteract the main rotor
torque by deflecting some downflow sideways in the right amount, to
eliminate the tail rotor... would it work?

Would it be too shaky because of the main blades spacing ? Pardon if
my wording is not proper.
Miguel