There is no direct relationship of rotor rpm to airspeed, there are a number of variables. Rotor disc angle of attack and airscrew mass airflow being two.747heavy wrote:so whats the speed record for an autogyro then? - just out of curiousity, not to start another argument.
I would think, that rotor/propeller tips approaching supersonic speed beeing a problem.
What´s the relation/ratio between forward velocity (of the AG) and rotor rpm?
Thx
The W116 has a flight rotor rpm of 350 rpm and a maximum of 400.
There are a number of light autogyro world speed records all of which have been or are held by the W116. The fastest is 120 mph. On July the 4th this year Ken was set to attempt a new record of over 135mph. This attempt was prevented by the CAA who have now set the official speeds for all light autogyros at 70 mph max and 30 mph minimum apart from flare. This is based on their lack of knowledge of the type.
A speed version of this rotor would use a laminar flow aerofoil section and a lower angle of incidence. It could also be of shorter length. An altitude record rotor would be longer and of high lift section.
The Rotodyne airliner had a top speed over 200 mph and a modern updated version with turbofanengines/compressors is potentialy capable of 500mph.
This aircraft should be in service for short and medium haul civil use (no runways) and should replace both the Chinook and C130 Herculese in military service. Instead they wish to sell us the Osprey tilt wing which has already killed tens of people in crashes and is a lethal concept on engine or gearbox failure. The Rotodyne had no rotor gearbox and on engine failure glided down.
