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mtworkowski@o
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I was thinking about the difference between the appearance of a propeller on a plane and a rotor on a helicopter. What is the consensus?
mtworkowski@o said:I'm also not seeing the twist that I see on a prop. I know that collective/cyclic controll needs that compromise but is that the reason the twist is not there?
There is a slight twist in helicopter blades, but not a huge twist like in a prop. For example, my beloved Chinook has a negative 12° twist towards the tips. The twist is there to accommodate the large length of the rotor and the resulting change in lift as you go from the hub to the tip. A prop is less like a real wing than a rotor blade. A prop, while can be feathered and adjusted, is less adjustable than a rotor blade which is why there is a huge twist in them, to get the max thrust they can get in their design condition. That is why a helicopter is a rotary-wing aircraft and not a prop driven aircraft.mtworkowski@o said:I'm also not seeing the twist that I see on a prop. I know that collective/cyclic controll needs that compromise but is that the reason the twist is not there?
The main difference between a propeller and a rotor is the way they generate lift. A propeller uses its rotating blades to push air backwards, creating a forward thrust. On the other hand, a rotor uses its rotating blades to create lift by pushing air downwards.
Commercial airplanes typically use a propeller design, as it is more fuel efficient and creates less noise compared to a rotor design. However, helicopters, which are also considered commercial aircraft, use a rotor design.
A rotor design allows for vertical take-off and landing, which is useful for helicopters and other VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft. It also provides better stability and control during low-speed flight compared to a propeller design.
Some examples of aircraft that use a propeller design include commercial airplanes, small private planes, and some military aircraft. Some notable examples include the Boeing 747 and the Cessna 172.
Yes, some aircraft designs use both a propeller and a rotor. These hybrid designs are often used in military or experimental aircraft, and they utilize the benefits of both designs for specific purposes.