| Re: Sikorsky X2 unveiled at Heli-Expo 2008
I'm not familiar with the Sikorsky X2.
I have just googled for it and see what you mean though.
However:
In forward flight, the way to turn is to use the cyclic. This is similar to using ailerons on a fixed wing. This will bank the helicopter, just as it banks an airplane.
The helicopter, banked, now has a sideways component from the main rotor disk's lift - so the helicopter will now me moving forward and to the side - the tail will "weathercock" around naturally, and often the pilot uses the rudders to keep the helicopter in balance (aircraft have a balance ball in the cockpit - like hanging a weight from a piece of string)
This is the same as if I were flying a plane, or a glider.
All helicopters can hover with no airspeed, and turn about their axis using the tail rotor.
Even the twin engine Chinooks have pilots that use a cyclic - they yaw (nose left / right) by altering the torque in the rotors, to twist the body using the torque of the engines - just the same as the Sikorsky X2 will)
In your model helicopter, if you have enough airspeed hence enough airflow flowing over the body in forward flight, your model, too, will bank in a turn - (if you turn using the cyclic as you should be in a turn, that is) - the rudder is only used in forward flight to a) keep the helicopter in balance (that means, streamlined through the air) and b) to help it around in a turn - which also means in balance / streamlines through the air.
Turning in forward flight using the rudder only is not "correct" (in the conventional sense) flying, and in a real helicopter would feel strange for the passengers as their weight wouldn't be pressed down into the seat in the turn, because the craft would be "out of balance" - the balance ball would move to one side, as would the passengers' bodies, and it would feel very unnatural and possibly make your passengers nervous.  | 
06-07-2008, 07:20 AM
