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mikkupikkuyesterday at 8:02 PM1 replyview on HN

Why won't they adopt one of Sikorsky's compound helicopters already? They're beautiful and elegant solutions to this problem.


Replies

cpgxiiiyesterday at 8:30 PM

Because Sikorski can't make them work. Sure, they can take off and fly fast in a straight line, but they haven't been able to demonstrate sufficient maneuverability due to vibration problems in the rotor head. They are also very tall, prohibitively so for existing shipboard hangar, which would otherwise seem to be their advantage over tiltrotor platforms.