In the video you will be able to see how the helicopter is flying without the rotor blades spinning.
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Yep, is has to be a strobe effect, which will also affect the shadow of the blade. As you can see in this video (just ignore the guys), the strobe effect also makes the fan and its shadow appear to be static.
Forget about the main rotor for a minute. Did you notice that the tail rotor was spinning. That is connected mechanically to the main rotor and wouldn’t be spinning if the main rotor wasn’t. But lets assume for a minute that the tail is NOT connected to the main. If that were the case then the helicopter would be spinnning uncontrollably pushed by the tail regardless of whether or not there were vectored thrust turbines .
http://www.helis.com/howflies/tailrot.php
27, Mark T, thanks for the info. I have zero time in rotorcraft. My experience with constant speed props is limited to fixed wing. Constant speed rotor would make it much easier on the camera for the strobe effect. Grab that collective and heave. Makes sense to me.
Now if I could just see the camera that took those cool pix of the nuclear explosion in that recent DU article.
Hey BubbaRay, Here’s a photo of the Raptronic Camera that was used to take the nuclear explosion photos.
Dougie, the main rotor and tail rotor are completely separate systems and operate at different RPMs. The main rotor is in sync with the camera but the tail rotor is not, hence the rotor appears to be spinning while the main rotor is static.
I would like to see this with a twin main rotor helicopter like the Sea Stallion or the V-22. That would look really freaky.
Actually several helicopters can glide on non moving rotors. i don’t believe this one is doing it & agree that it’s an optical illusion. The real giveaway is no change in stress on each side as it changes it’s flight path.
There are quite a few choppers that can glide or autorotate on no engine power or failed rotors. it’s a safty feature on alot of modern choppers.. It’s actually more important to keep the tail rotor going than the main for stability in emergency situations.
#36, Davidka, ok, I’ll bite, show me a helicopter that can glide or autorotate without a spinning main rotor, and I’ll show you a brick that can safely land. 🙂
Please cite source, just for my edification, I’d really like to know.
Thanks.
#36, that was the funniest thing I’ve read all day, thanks.
#35, while the main and tail rotors of all helicopters do spin at different RPMs, they are still mechanically linked. I vote for the shutter speed causing this effect.
#whoever-said-RPM-varies, you may get a very slight decrease in RPM, from 100% to maybe 97%, but it will quickly stabilize. All moden helicopters (from 1970s on) have electronic controllers that regulate fuel flow to ensure constant speed. Even the old ones had analog systems to regulate RPM, some of which are absolutely fascinating designs.
#25, seems to me the guy taping had a bunch of options to sync the shutter speed. He could grab a 5th of a rotation or 2/5 or 3/5 etc. One of those must have matched up with one of his shutter speed options. My cheapo $300 camcorder can do the same.
Don’t any of you dare question me. I am a helicopter pilot. I know everything I just said because I’ve seen it and done with my own eyes and hands. 🙂