baronpilot
Newbie
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2012
- Messages
- 544
- Location
- Auburn, IN
- Aircraft
- Baron B55, Bonanza V35, Brantly B2B
- Total Flight Time
- 2500
OK, I will admit it: Once I start thinking about a project I can't stop until I am comfortable with the end result.
I really like the Helicycle and think the turbine is great, but the way the throttle is controlled scares me. Here is why:
On most helicopters you manually twist the throttle control and a rod pushes/pulls the throttle assembly at the fuel controller. Before you pull collective you get the engine/rotor up to speed by twisting until you are there. To help maintain RPM when pulling the collective some helicopters use a mechanical correlator that advances the throttle even further to help maintain the desired RPM, but you still have to tweak it a bit with some minor twisting.
On other helicopters you have a governor. You still set the throttle where you want it and the governor electronically "maintains" that throttle setting once it is set. If the governor fails you simply have to maintain the throttle setting yourself.
Both of the above systems still use mechanical linkages and are bullet proof.
Now, to the Helicycle. The pilot's operation is the same; however, the actual system is very different. The Helicycle uses an electronic throttle control, not a "governor." Here is the problem I see: When you twist the throttle you are actually adjusting a potentiometer on the end of the collective stick. That signal is then sent through wires to a computer that then sends power to a servo that runs the throttle. That sounds great except for one thing - it has too many points of failure and no backup. Stan tackled one obstacle by having an isolated automatic backup power source, but that is only part of the problem. If the potentiometer, wiring, computer, or servo fail you lose the ability to control the engine and that does not sit well with me.
It seems to me that this system should either be converted to a mechanical throttle and corellator or mechanical throttle and electronic governor. What it has now is not even good enough for a car IMO. I have repaired too many GM SUV's with failed fly-by-wire throttle controls to be in the air with nearly the same system.
I really like the Helicycle and think the turbine is great, but the way the throttle is controlled scares me. Here is why:
On most helicopters you manually twist the throttle control and a rod pushes/pulls the throttle assembly at the fuel controller. Before you pull collective you get the engine/rotor up to speed by twisting until you are there. To help maintain RPM when pulling the collective some helicopters use a mechanical correlator that advances the throttle even further to help maintain the desired RPM, but you still have to tweak it a bit with some minor twisting.
On other helicopters you have a governor. You still set the throttle where you want it and the governor electronically "maintains" that throttle setting once it is set. If the governor fails you simply have to maintain the throttle setting yourself.
Both of the above systems still use mechanical linkages and are bullet proof.
Now, to the Helicycle. The pilot's operation is the same; however, the actual system is very different. The Helicycle uses an electronic throttle control, not a "governor." Here is the problem I see: When you twist the throttle you are actually adjusting a potentiometer on the end of the collective stick. That signal is then sent through wires to a computer that then sends power to a servo that runs the throttle. That sounds great except for one thing - it has too many points of failure and no backup. Stan tackled one obstacle by having an isolated automatic backup power source, but that is only part of the problem. If the potentiometer, wiring, computer, or servo fail you lose the ability to control the engine and that does not sit well with me.
It seems to me that this system should either be converted to a mechanical throttle and corellator or mechanical throttle and electronic governor. What it has now is not even good enough for a car IMO. I have repaired too many GM SUV's with failed fly-by-wire throttle controls to be in the air with nearly the same system.
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