CCW Rotorway

[Brent Smith]

I think the Rotorways have come a long way but there's one aspect of the design that has always bugged me. Why have the main rotor rotate clockwise, PIC in left seat, tail rotor on right side, etc.? Those of us with lots of time in helicopters with clockwise turning rotors dread the thought of stomping on the wrong pedal in an emergency autorotation. Have there been any Rotorway conversions for CCW turning main rotors, etc.? What would it take? Thanks.

 

[WaspAir]

Try flying a French helicopter and you'll discover it's a non-issue. You'll just do what you must to stop the yaw, and it will feel natural. I seriously doubt you'll stomp pro-yaw pedal when the nose starts swinging. No thinking or analysis required; just make the bird do what you want it to do as you always do when flying.

P.S. My Bell is PIC left seat with tail rotor on the right.

 

[Brent Smith]

Fair enough (though I don't see flying any French machines in my near future ) Still, anyone ever heard of somebody converting a Rotorway? Thanks again.

 

[WaspAir]

Never heard of a conversion although others might. I remain skeptical because in addition to reversing the drive you would need new main rotor blades and it would be hard to justify.

 

[500e]

Flown both as @WaspAir. Says not a real problem same as flying the 500 left or right seat

 

[MikeBoyette]

I'm sure it's probably as true in any helicopter as any gyro. Unless it's inherently unstable or uncontrollable do what all three instructors I had told me. Do what ever it takes to "fly the damn machine" no matter what control inputs it takes. This includes the unfamiliar or odd feeling. Then also never stop flying it until its on the ground and the blades are stationary.

 

[Brent Smith]

I suspected no CCW Rotorways. I have flown one for about an hour including doing an auto. Only problem was that I had to think about it in advance before pressing on the "wrong" pedal upon entry. Worked out fine, just uncomfortable. Thanks for the feedback. Brent

 

[Roundwing]

Fair enough (though I don't see flying any French machines in my near future ) Still, anyone ever heard of somebody converting a Rotorway? Thanks again.

See if there are any Guimbal Cabri 2s in your area. It is a two seat French built trainer. Personally I think it is a very fine machine.
I have flown Enstrom, Robbies and the Cabri. No problem with stomping on the wrong pedal. You do whatever it takes to fly the machine.

Rick

 

[Greg Vos]

Flown both as @WaspAir. Says not a real problem same as flying the 500 left or right seat

I don’t even think about it ….my brain tells me what way the nose is going and I use the foot to fix the yaw …swop between 44/22 and MD 500 no issue

 

[royden]

There have been a few Rotorway helicopters with rotors that turn CCW. There have only been a few helicopters that have been converted to a Subaru or Rotary engine installation.

 

[wolfy]

I don’t even think about it ….my brain tells me what way the nose is going and I use the foot to fix the yaw …swop between 44/22 and MD 500 no issue

Isnt the MD 500 counter clockwise also

wolfy

 

[500e]

And 300

 

[bell206]

I don’t even think about it ….my brain tells me what way the nose is going and I use the foot to fix the yaw …swop between 44/22 and MD 500 no issue

There is no difference between 44/22 and MD500 all three are counterclockwise rotating blades.

 

[Greg Vos]

There is no difference between 44/22 and MD500 all three are counterclockwise rotating blades.

You still don’t have to think about it …nose goes right …left pedal nose goes left right pedal ..what am I missing here ?

 

[bell206]

You still don’t have to think about it …nose goes right …left pedal nose goes left right pedal ..what am I missing here ?

What you are missing is your statement of switching between R22/44 and MD500 no issue. There shouldn't be any difference because they are all counterclockwise rotation.
Having owned an AS350 clockwise rotating rotor helicopter, and Bell Jetrangers, R22 at the same time and switching back and forth, I don't disagree with your statement of pushing on whichever pedal is necessary but it is very dangerous if not fatal to push on the wrong pedal reacting to an engine out or surprise throttle chop in training.

 

[Greg Vos]

What you are missing is your statement of switching between R22/44 and MD500 no issue. There shouldn't be any difference because they are all counterclockwise rotation.
Having owned an AS350 clockwise rotating rotor helicopter, and Bell Jetrangers, R22 at the same time and switching back and forth, I don't disagree with your statement of pushing on whichever pedal is necessary but it is very dangerous if not fatal to push on the wrong pedal reacting to an engine out or surprise throttle chop in training.

Ok so if you chop the throttle the nose will yaw …as it will if it loses power from say a mechanical failure I react with my feet to correct the yaw my brain tells me to correct the yaw not to firts think about what pedal to push ….that said I love your collection of helicopters top draw

 

[Grayforge]

I learned in a Schweizer (CCW rotation), then had the opportunity to fly a Cabri G2. I was wondering if muscle memory built while flying the Schweizer would require a bit of re-learning to hover. IE, did it get burned into my brain that a bit of up collective would require a bit of left pedal? Nope, no factor at all.

 

[nishanh]

My issue with the Rotorway is the left-seat position. It is ill-advised to take your hand off the cyclic (at least in the Robbies). So to finagle the radio and other center panel controls requires you to reach over your right side with your collective hand, or temporarily switch hands on the cyclic. I prefer right-seat flying because I can safely remove my hand from the collective temporarily to work the more readily accessible center console.

 

[Grayforge]

The Schweizer 269C I flew was PIC in the left seat. I didn't have a problem locking the collective, grabbing the cyclic with my left hand and operating the instruments with my right. Also, my iPad/Foreflight was mounted to the left canopy area, so I could use my left hand to work it.

Another nice thing about left seat is you don't have a collective in the middle that a passenger could interfere with. Also, I think it's harder to Long Line while piloting from the right.

Everyone has their preferences.

 

[500e]

Left or right seat not a problem
Equally useless in either.