Intermeshing rotors
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Intermeshing rotors on a helicopter are a set of two rotors turning in opposite directions, with each rotor mast mounted on the helicopter with a slight angle to the other so that the blades intermesh without colliding. The arrangement allows the helicopter to function without the need for a tail rotor. This configuration is sometimes referred to as a synchropter.
The arrangement was developed in Nazi Germany for a small anti-submarine warfare helicopter, the Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri. During the Cold War the American Kaman company started to produce similar helicopters for USAF firefighting purposes. Kamans have high stability and powerful lifting capability. The latest Kaman K-MAX model is a dedicated sky crane design, used for construction works.
