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Carter Copter Breaks Mu-1 Barrier

tyler_larson writes "Just over a week ago, Jay Carter's CarterCopter managed to break a significant rotorcraft barrier, traveling at a mu ratio of 1. This 1-to-1 ratio (sometimes called the mu-1 barrier) represents a condition where the forward speed of the craft is the same as the speed of the tip of the rotor. This means that at a certain point, the tip of the retreating blade is "standing still" relative to the wind and producing no lift, while the rest of the blade is actually moving backwards through the air. Such a condition is normally impossible for a rotorcraft, and so the forward speed of a helicopter is limited by the the speed of the rotors. This accomplishment by the CarterCopter, which some insisted couldn't be done, proves that this new craft is not subject to that limitation."

17 of 368 comments (clear)

  1. So... by Arghdee · · Score: 5, Funny

    The whole thing is moving forward while parts of it are moving backward or standing still at the same time?

    Sounds suspiciously like a certain operating system :D

    1. Re:So... by October_30th · · Score: 5, Funny

      Heh. Well, yes. It does sound a lot like like Hurd.

      --
      The owls are not what they seem
    2. Re:So... by AndroidCat · · Score: 3, Funny
      The whole thing is moving forward while parts of it are moving backward or standing still at the same time?

      And some parts shake. That's what it's all about!

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  2. Riddle me this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Q: How fast can a helicoptor travel?
    A: Mu

    1. Re:Riddle me this by Tophe · · Score: 3, Funny

      Q: How fast can a helicoptor travel? A: An African Helicopter or a European Helicopter?

  3. Re:The mu ratio by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Obviously the Carter Copter has much more cow bell than previous attempts.

  4. And at a certain point in it's flight.... by Monte · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...all four hooves are off the ground at once!

    I've got pictures to prove it!

  5. Re:oh.. by Spock+the+Baptist · · Score: 2, Funny

    Knights do not say mu. Kittens say mu.

    --
    "Oh drat these computers, they're so naughty and so complex, I could pinch them." --Marvin the Martian
  6. Re:Why did the cat fall off the roof? by h4rm0ny · · Score: 3, Funny


    Q. Does a cow have a buddha nature?
    A. Mu.

    --

    Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
  7. I bet they can get the rotor speed to 0 by doorbender · · Score: 3, Funny

    if they just make the wings on the side a LITTLE bigger.

    --
    "He's a real midnight golfer"
  8. Battlefield 2 by vjmurphy · · Score: 1, Funny

    Unfortunately, this doesnt help me with my helicopter flying ability in battlefield 2: I still keep doing the same thing:

    "Hey, you guys in my copter, I'm pretty sure this thing can break the mu-1 barrier! See, check it...."

    For some reason, I get a ton of "You have Teamkilled some guys" messages, then a little later, I'm back at the server browser. I think Battlefield 2 is dumping me whenever I get close to the mu-1 barrier.

    Next time, I think I'll try the apache...

    --
    Vincent J. Murphy
    Spandex Justice
  9. But.... by Professeur+Shadoko · · Score: 5, Funny

    So many airspeed questions...
    but is it an european or an african helicopter ?

  10. Re:Helicopters by Chainsaw76 · · Score: 2, Funny

    a lot of fixed wing pilots aren't fans of Helicopters. My ground school instructor insisted Helicopters couldn't actualy fly, but they were so ugly the ground repelled them.

    -J

  11. That's not that impressive by Steampunk · · Score: 2, Funny

    "It's not that helicopters actually fly. It's just that they're so ugly, the earth naturally repels them."

    -- Any jet jockey

    Instead of defeating the Mu-barrier (retreating blade stall), it would impress me more if they could overcome compression effects when the forward-moving blade gets close to the speed of sound.

  12. Airwolf by killtherat · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't see what the big deal is. As I recall, Airwolf could do that all the way back in 1985.

  13. Re:oh.. by uberdave · · Score: 2, Funny

    Kittens say mu.

    Especially Greek kittens.

  14. Re:Heli-plane? by wiskinator · · Score: 2, Funny

    I like this from the FAQ (on the website, not TFA)

    "If the unbalance in blade lift moments is too high, then the flapping becomes greater than the flapping travel and bad things will happen."