Fabrication and Testing of High-Speed Single-Rotor and Compound-Rotor Systems

Slowed rotors – traditionally associated with autogyros and gyroplanes – have long been recognized as one potential solution for high-speed helicopters (200-300 knots). During the 1950s–70s, there were several significant programs that led to the development of high-speed helicopters with thrust and lift compounding. The key technology barriers common to all were extremely high fuel consumption due to high advancing side drag and large reverse flow, complexities associated with RPM reduction, large blade motions during RPM reduction, and unexplained but catastrophic aeroelastic instabilities of rigid rotors (Cheyenne). None of these helicopters entered regular production.