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Carter Copter Breaks Mu-1 Barrier

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the thwop-thwop-thwop-chunk-chunk-chunk dept.

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."

5 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. Riddle me this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  3. 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!

  4. But.... by Professeur+Shadoko · · Score: 5, Funny

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