The Folland Gnat is a British-made fighter aircraft. It is a subsonic aircraft and has a swept-wing configuration. Subsonic Aircraft are those aircraft whose speed is less than 1 Mach. 1 Mach is also equal to the speed of sound i.e. 343 m/s.
In Swept Wing configuration, the wings of the aircraft are at some angle rather than straight. Swept Wing configuration has a very old history. Aircraft with the swept-wing configuration were also used in the second world war.
The main advantages of the Falling Gnat are that it has a small size, light weight and the cost of operation and maintenance is also very low. These reasons make it best suited for training pilots and aircrews.
The Intellect Behind The Folland Gnat
The Folland Gnat was designed by William Edward Willoughby Petter.
W.E.W Petter was a Britisher by birth and he worked on various aircraft including Westland Lysander and Westland Whirlwind. The Folland Gnat was his last aircraft.
Henry Folland, the founder of Folland Aircraft Limited appointed Petter as the Chief Engineer and Deputy Managing Director of his company.
Petter led a reclusive life throughout his education at Cambridge University. One of Petter’s friends John McCowan revealed that Petter has an interest in motor cars.
In Picture on the left is W.E.W. Petter.
The Fascinating Indian Story
There is a very interesting story behind the induction of Folland Gnat in the Indian Air Force.
Air Chief MarshalPrakash Chandra Lal once noticed a fighter in England that was 1/3rd the size and 1/2 the weight of its contemporary fighters and that too with improved capabilities and better acceleration. He was quite impressed and wanted to make a deal for these fighters.
The inventor was however not excited about the deal but later agreed when he came to know that Indians also play cricket.
After this, the Folland Gnat was used by Indian Air Force in combat roles in wars including the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, and proved to be quite useful. India has also developed two separate variants of its own derived from Gnat F.1 namely HAL Ajeet and HAL Ajeet Trainer which are later discussed in this article.
The Folland Gnat was used in Indo-Pak war of 1965 and Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. It is credited for shooting down seven Pakistani Canadair Sabres in the 1965 war.
In 1971, something astonishing happened in a dogfight, a single Indian Gnat pilot held out against six Pakistani Canadair Sabres and damaged two of the Sabres before getting shot down. The brave pilot was Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon who posthumously received Param Vir Chakra and is still (2021) the only recipient of Param Vir Chakra from Indian Air Force.
Param Vir Chakra
Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military decoration and is given for distinguished acts of valor and sacrifice during wartime. There has been 21 awardees so far out of which 20 are from Indian Army and only one from Indian Air Force (IAF).
There are more than 10 variants of the Folland Gnat. We will briefly discuss few of them.
Gnat F.1 was a single seater fighter which was a export version and was exported to Finland, India and Yugoslavia.
Gnat F.2 was an upgraded version of Gnat F.1
HAL Ajeet was lightweight fighter developed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It was derived from Gnat F.1. Indian Air Force operated it between 1977 and 1991.
HAL Ajeet Trainer is a double seater trainer version designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for Indian Air Force (IAF). This version is derived from HAL Ajeet.
When we drive a car, there are some basic controls which we have to learn and implement while on road. This include accelerator, clutch, brakes and steering wheel. Except these all other controls and functions we can count as secondary. Similarly, while flying a helicopter there are some basic controls which every pilot must know. https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-8260932016483866 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Fundamental Helicopter Controls Every Pilot Must Know When it…
The United States Air Force is by far the most superior air force across the globe. But what makes it the strongest? To start with, USAF has over 13,264 aircraft with more than 462,000 workers! https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-8260932016483866 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Surprisingly USAF is three times larger than the Russian Air Force, the second most superior air force globally. Russian Air Force has around 4,163 military aircraft and about 148,000…
The Northrop Grumman X-47B is one of the coolest military aircraft of the 21st century. It is an experimental strike and surveillance aircraft designed to perform one of the most difficult feats in aviation. This includes for instance landing and taking off from a carrier deck at sea. But that too without a pilot. The size of X-47B is similar to a modern piloted fighter for example General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-8260932016483866 (adsbygoogle =…
A helicopter is quite a lot more difficult to fly than airplanes or aero planes/ airplanes. People make all these impossible analogies, when really it’s quite simple. An airplane is like a car. You steer it where you want it to go. A helicopter is like a motorcycle. You’re part of the machine, it’s part of you, and you just do what you need to do. https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-8260932016483866 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle…
Lockheed Martin has developed a strategic tanker for US Air Force known as the LMXT. It is made in America by Americans for Americans. https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-8260932016483866 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The LMXT is delivered in response to the KC-Y program of the United States Air Force. KC-Y program of the US Air Force was launched on 16th June, 2021 which requires development in aerial refueling for US Air Force once…
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Getting the first scratch on your first car is really painful. Very recently, I got two scratches on my car from a trash bin while parking. And on a dark-colored vehicle, these scratches are quite visible. I ordered an expensive car scratch remover from an e-commerce website but I found it useless.
Unexpectedly, a product caught my eye on Amazon for around Rs. 250/- which had good reviews from verified buyers. After spending more than Rs. 3000/- on different products, I wanted to give a try to this product. This product proved to be better than other expensive products.
Most of the scratches were gone even after its first application. But for major scratches like the ones which deform the body are not completely removed. These Level-4 scratches cannot be removed by any car scratch remover. No product is that efficient right now.
Below I am attaching the product’s image and link, which proved to be very helpful to me. Click here or on the image below to buy this product.
Car Scratch Remover
How To Apply
This can be easily applied with the help of a cloth or a sponge. It leaves a bright shine on the car once it dries. The directions of use are also given on the backside of the product.
The best thing about this product is that this product can be returned if not found effective within 10 days of purchasing. But I think this is worth buying and a must-have for all the car/vehicle owners.
On the 26th of January, 2020 a helicopter crashed in California. In this crash, all nine people died including Kobe Bryant, his thirteen years old daughter Gianna.
Kobe Bryant With his daughter Gianna
Who Was Kobe Bryant?
Kobe Bryant was an American professional Basketball player. Kobe Bryant is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. The aircraft which crashed was a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter. It was registered to the Island Express under registration number N72EX. The helicopter departed from John Wayne Airport, California to Camarillo Airport, California at about 09:10.
The altitude of the helicopter was below 1800 ft sea level and in between 410 ft to 610 ft above ground level throughout the flight.
Probable Cause of the Helicopter Crash
National Transportation Safety Board, an independent agency of the United States responsible for transportation accident investigation determined that the probable cause of the crash was the decision made by the pilot to carry on the flight under visual flight rules into instrumental meteorological conditions.
This resulted in the loss of control and spatial disorientation. Island Express’s safety management of helicopters was also questioned as some important avionics and features like Flight Data Monitor (FDM) or Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) were not fit in the helicopter.
However, it was identified that all of the passengers and the pilot were not in the influence of any drugs/alcohol.
Kobe Bryant and Sikorsky S-76 Helicopter
The Helicopter in which Kobe Bryant was flying was Sikorsky S-76. This aircraft is developed by an American company named Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. Sikorsky S-76 has four blades in its rotor systemi.e. in both main rotor and tail rotor. It is powered by twin turboshaft engines.
Sikorsky S-76C Model
The landing gear in the S-76 can be retracted. It is mainly used as a commercial utility helicopter.
There is a unique world record named after Richard Harold Smith who first circumnavigated the whole world in the east to west direction with the help of Sikorsky S-76.
Richard Harold Smith is an Australian Aviator and Entrepreneur who was also selected as the Australian of the Year in 1986.
Richard Harold Smith, A Renowned Aviator
2.Specifications of Sikorsky S-76
Sikorsky S-76 is a powerful twin-engine helicopter and can accommodate 12-13 passengers easily. Sikorsky S-76 has a length of around 16 meters. with width and height being 3.06 meters and 4.43 meters respectively.
The Sikorsky S-76 helicopter is used worldwide for different purposes including airlines, military, etc. As of 2021, it is in service in mainly Asian countries including China, Japan, Saudi Arabia and, Thailand.
Apart from Asian countries, it is being used in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Argentina.
Sikorsky S-76 is prone to failures. Five major accidents were reported which involved Sikorsky S-76. Each of them is briefly discussed below.
1.Bristow Helicopter Crash in 2002
Bristow Helicopters Limited is a British company that provides helicopter-related services. On 16th July 2002, a Sikorsky S-76A crashed in the North Sea while it was on a small flight. The cause of the crash was found to be the failure of the main rotor.
Copterline was once Finland’s largest helicopter airline. On 10th August 2005, when the flight departed from Tallinn (Capital of Estonia) to Helsinki (Capital of Finland), it lost its steerability four minutes after taking off and fall in Tallinn Bay. Read more about the crash @Wikipedia.
3.Ornge Air Ambulance Crash in 2013
Ornge is a Canadian not-for-profit corporation that provides ambulance services to the Ontario province. It works under the Ministry of Health.
On 31st May 2013, a Sikorsky S-76A helicopter crashed in which 2 pilots were killed. The take-off took place at night which is believed to be one of the reasons for the crash. Read more about the Ornge Servicehere.
4.Svan Aviation Crash in 2017
A Sikorsky S76C++ crashed on 10th March 2017 which was en route to Turkey from Istanbul. Six minutes after the take-off, the helicopter hit the Endem TV tower in Istanbul. There were seven people on board. Misfortunately all of them died.
Endem TV Tower, Istanbul
Endem TV Tower was built between 1998 to 2008. The total height of the tower is 257 meters.
The Aeronautical Superpowers are at war on Stealth Technology right now. Stealth Technology is also referred to as Low Observable Technology or LO Technology.
The objective of using stealth technology is to make a moving object invisible to the radiations used for detecting. Stealth Aircraft are the future of new-generation warfare.
Operation Neptune Spear
Remember 2nd May 2011? An operation code named Neptune Spear was executed by the United States. In this operation, two Black Hawks MH-60 stealth helicopters were used. No one knows about the secret stealth technology used in the making of those two helicopters.
However, one of the two helicopters was crash-landed during the operation in Pakistan, so the operators destroyed the helicopter to conceal the stealth secret. The Navy Seals were not able to destroy the helicopter completely.
The tail rotor section was partially intact. In one of the papers, it was mentioned that Pakistan gave the Chinese Army access to the crashed helicopter. It is also believed that Chinese officials also collected samples and photographs of the wreckage.
This was the first time in history that a stealth helicopter was used. Till now, in 2021, no country has ever used stealth technology in helicopters except the United States. Read in detail about the interesting helicopters used in the Neptune Spear operation here.
F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation, single-seater, double-engined, stealth aircraft designed and developed only for the United States Air Force. Along with Lockheed Martin, Boeing also provides support like avionics integration.
A total of 195 F-22 Raptor aircraft were built and the United States has possession of all of them as this aircraft is banned for export by the US Federal Law. The reason for prohibiting the export is to protect the stealth technology.
The F-35 Lightning II is also a product of Lockheed Martin introduced in 2015. F-35 Lightning is a fifth-generation, single-engine, and single-seater stealth aircraft designed for warfare and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target-Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities.
More than 625 fighters are made as of April 2021. The F-35 has three versions F-35A, F-35B, F-35C. These vary in dimensions, payload capacity, and range, etc. The maximum recorded speed of F-35 is 1.6 Mach. As of April 2021, 15 countries are using Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning in their armed forces.
Besides the United States, these include United Kingdom, Turkey, Japan, and Australia, etc. Some basic specifications of the F-35 Lightning II are shown in the table below.
Sukhoi Su-57 is a Russian fifth-generation, single-seater, double-engined, multirole stealth aircraft. It is also known as Felon. It was introduced in 2020 in the Russian Army. Sukhoi Su-57 is known for its high-tech avionics and super-maneuverability.
One more interesting feature of the Sukhoi Su-57 fighter is that it is the world’s first aircraft with side-facing RADARs and front-facing RADARs that can detect other aircraft in flight very early. As of 2020, only 12 Su-57 are built and all of them are for the Russian Air Force.
However, Algeria has also given an order of 14 Su-57 fighters. The maximum operated speed of Su-57 is 2.0 Mach. Sukhoi/HAL FGFA is the main export variant for Indian Air Force which is jointly developed by Sukhoi and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It is likely to be introduced in 2022 for export.
Chengdu J-20 is a Chinese fifth-generation, single-seater, double-engined aircraft. Chengdu J-20 is also known as Might Dragon. After F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, J-20 became the third fifth-generation stealth aircraft in 2017 when it was introduced in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
The claimed maximum speed of J-20 is more than 2 Mach. A total of 50 Chengdu J-20 are built and all of them are exclusively owned by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
There is also a controversy that the information of the Lockheed Martin F-35 program has been illegally accessed by the Chinese and the J-20 may have been developed based on that information.
B-2 Spirit also referred to as Stealth Bomber is an American twin-seat fighter designed and developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation. It was first introduced on January 1, 1997, in the United States Air Force.
A total of 21 bombers were built and all of them are owned by the US Air Force. The main advantage of the B-2 Bomber is that it can carry a lot of missiles and other weapons and that too in stealth mode. The cost of production of each fighter was around $737 million when it was first introduced back in 1997.
The B-2 made its heroic debut in the War of Kosovo in 1999 where it destroyed around 33.4 percent of targets in less than two months. The maximum speed of the B-2 bomber is around 0.95 Mach.
On 2nd May 2011, a special operation codenamed Neptune Spear was carried out by US Navy Seals in Pakistan to kill Osama Bin Laden. A piece of credit for successfully executing the mission goes to the stealth helicopters used in the mission.
In April 2011, the intelligence agencies of the United States identified the suspected location of Osama Bin Laden as Abbottabad in Pakistan. He was found in May 2011 at his mansion which was less than a mile away from Pakistan Military Academy. Barack Obama, the then President of the United States ordered an operation codenamed Neptune Spear, which ultimately led to the killing of Osama Bin Laden.
Which Helicopter Was Used to Raid Osama Bin Laden?
Two Sikorsky MH-60 Black Hawk (Stealth) Helicopters were used in Operation Neptune Spear which resulted in the killing of Al-Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden.
These Black Hawk helicopters were modified to have low radar visibility and to be less noisy. One of the Black Hawk crash-landed during the operation. But, it was destroyed by the navy seals to conceal the stealth technology used by the US Forces in the helicopters.
Why were Black Hawks Chosen to Raid Osama Bin Laden?
One question that confused everyone was that why MH-60 Black Hawks were chosen for the Neptune Spear operation when the USA had other good helicopters in its arsenal like RAH-66 Comanche and Apache AH-64?
The answer is very simple. UH-60 is highly customizable. There are more than 20 variants of UH-60 which were used for special operations. UH-60 variants are not only used for special purposes but also as utility helicopters.
There are around 8 utility variants of the UH-60 Black Hawk and more than 30 export versions.
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter can be configured and modified according to the requirements of the operation.
HH-60W, A Black Hawk Variant
Among all the variants of the UH-60 Black Hawk, MH-60 Stealth Helicopter is the most popular variant. It was said that some hundreds of pounds of modifications were done in the helicopter. The windshield was made anti-radar and some special coatings were done to get rid of the radio waves from RADAR.
Black Hawk Helicopter is powered by two turboshaft engines. It has 4 blades in the main rotor and tail rotor. The Black Hawk Helicopter has a low profile design. This low-profile design helps in making it suitable for armed forces.
The maximum load capacity of the Black Hawk Helicopter is 1200 Kg (around 2600 pounds) internally which is enough to carry 12 fully equipped troops. When using a sling, it can carry close to 4100 kg (9000 pounds). When on a mission, it can carry, 12 troops, 3 cabin crew, and a 105mm British Howitzer.
The maximum weight of a utility Black Hawk version is around 9980 Kg (or 22000 pounds).
UH-60M, A Black Hawk Variant
The Black Hawk helicopters can be used for multiple roles. The most common uses are in search and rescue operations, special operations, transporting VIPs, Medevac, etc.
The Black Hawk is highly customizable and this is the reason why it is always trusted for multiple roles.
A version of Black Hawk, VH-60N, is a VIP version and is used for the transportation of top government officials in the United States.
Black Hawk helicopters are currently used by 28 countries worldwide including United States, Australia, China, and Israel.
A total of around 4000 Black Hawks (all variants) are there in the world right now. The United States secures first place with 2135 Black Hawks which is more than 50 percent.
In 1994, a UH-60 helicopter of the Korean Air Force crashed in which the then Chief Of Air Staff of South Korea, Cho Kun Hae also died.
Black Hawks gave the victory in the Battle Of Mogadishu. After this battle, the demand for Black Hawks increased rapidly worldwide.
Black Hawk emerged as the winner in a competition in 1976 when it outran the Boeing Vertol YUH-61.
Black Hawk is named after a leader and a warrior of Sauk or Sac, a native American tribe.
One of the two Black Hawks was crashed and later destroyed by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) to conceal shreds of evidence of the stealth variant. But they were unable to destroy the tail rotor section. When these sections were analyzed it was found that the secret variant had extra blades in the tail rotor to make it quieter. Some other noise reduction measures were also used in that variant. Surfaces similar to stealth jets were also found in this variant. Cool
A movie name Black Hawk Down was produced in 2001 by Ridley Scott is based on the 1993 United States military’s raid on Somalia. It later won 2 Academy Awards.
The United States uses UH-60 helicopters to keep an eye on illegal entry to the US and cross-border smuggling.
The Rotor System of a helicopter refers to the rotating part of a helicopter that helps in creating the lift. This is the same part of the helicopter to which the blades are attached.
A Rotor System can be horizontal like the main rotor of a helicopter which creates vertical lift and it can be vertical like the tail rotor of a helicopter which creates horizontal thrust to counter the torque.
There is also a third type of rotor system known as a tilt rotor. Tilt Rotors are those rotors that are placed at the edge of the wings. An example of a helicopter with a tilt-rotor is Augusta Westland AW609.
Augusta Westland AW609, an example of tilt rotor type helicopter
Rotor System Configurations
In this section, let’s have a look at different configurations of rotors. Rotor configuration means, the positioning of one or more rotors in relation to each other.
In the Robinson R22 helicopter, there is a main rotor parallel to the ground and a tail rotor perpendicular to the ground. Whereas, in Boeing Chinook, there are 2 main rotors and no separate tail rotor. So, let’s discuss types of rotor configurations in helicopters in detail.
1.Single (Main) RotorSystem
Single Rotor helicopters are the most common helicopters used globally. In this type of helicopter, there is one main rotor and a tail rotor to counteract the torque.
To overcome the torque effect, an antitorque is required. This antitorque can be created by at least three methods i.e. a tail rotor, a fantail, and NOTAR (No Tail Rotor).
1.2 Tail Rotor
Tail Rotor is a smaller rotor in size as compared to the main rotor used to create an antitorque. It is generally present at the tail of a single-rotor helicopter. Tail Rotors are simpler to manage and this is the reason why these are used in most modern helicopters.
Tail Rotor
The pitch of the tail rotors can be controlled with the help of anti-torque pedals. The pitch of the tail rotor helps provide directional control.
You may have seen sometimes a helicopter while hovering rotates 360 degrees on its axis. This can be done by controlling the pitch of the tail rotor.
1.3 Advantages of Single Rotor Helicopters
Extended Hovering: Single Rotor Helicopters are best suited for applications where extended hovering is required. Longer blades can be used in single rotor helicopters which helps in creating endurance.
Heavy Payloads: Some applications require heavy loads of men and material. Single Rotor Helicopters can be a good choice in these applications.
Easy Operation: Only one rotor is used for creating lift in a single rotor helicopter. Along with this, there is one tail rotor and that’s it. No more complexities. This makes it quite easy to operate. This is the reason why most civil helicopters are based on a single rotor system model.
More Vibrations: Single Rotor accounts for more vibrations in the helicopter which makes the ride uncomfortable and unreliable at times. As compared to multi-rotor helicopters, single rotor helicopters have more vibrations.
More Danger is there: The longer blades in a single rotor aircraft pose a greater danger as compared to themulti-rotor model. If there is a failure in a rotor, there is no backup. Whereas in a multi-rotor system, if one of the rotors fails, the other rotor(s) come(s) into action.
2. Tandem Rotor
Tandem Rotor helicopters have two main horizontal rotor assemblies. They are often referred to as dual-rotor helicopters.
Single main rotor helicopters use a tail rotor to neutralize the torque effect of the large main rotor. However, Tandem Rotor helicopters use two large rotors and no tail rotor. So, one question automatically comes to mind that how do these helicopters work without a tail rotor?
Tandem Rotor Helicopter Illustration
2.1Why Tandem Rotor helicopters do not have a tail rotor ?
We know that the tail rotor in helicopters is used for counteracting the torque generated by the main rotor. In 1927, Nicolas Florine built a helicopter with a tandem rotor and invented a new mechanism to counteract the infamous torque effect.
In this type of helicopter, the torque generated by one rotor is canceled out by the other rotor. At the same time, both the rotors can be used to generate the power for creating lift. Isn’t it powerful?
2.2 Why Rotors do not collide in tandem-rotor system?
The tandem rotors need to be synchronized to make sure that they do not clash with each other even if there is an engine failure. Clashing of blades in the mid-flight can be a nightmare.
To ensure that the blades do not clash with one another, specific calculations are made like the distance between the rotors, the length of the blades, coaxial distance if present, all these calculations are done beforehand to achieve efficiency. Also in many tandem rotor helicopters like Chinook, there is an axial rotor distance between both the rotors.
Large Center Of Gravity: In simple terms, the center of gravity means the point at which an object balances. Have you ever tried balancing a pen on your finger? The point at which the pen balances is known as its Center of Gravity. The Center of gravity is an important parameter as it affects the stability of an aircraft.
Longitudinal Stability: Longitudinal Stability is an important parameter in determining the stability of an aircraft under steady flight conditions. This parameter also tells us about the ease with which a pilot can handle the aircraft without much giving excess power and attention to the aircraft.
Heavy Load Lifting Capability: Tandem-rotor helicopters have the benefit of lifting heavy loads. The two sets of rotors help in giving a stable center of gravity and provide more power to lift. This is the reason why most of the best utility helicopters used in armed forces use tandem-rotor systems.
Makes Powerful Aircraft: As discussed earlier, in the tandem-rotor aircraft, both the rotors are used to create the lift, whereas, in single main rotor aircraft, part of the power needs to be shared with the tail rotor. This makes tandem-rotor aircraft much more powerful and among the fastest in the world.
Complex Transmission: Two large rotors provide power in the tandem-rotor helicopters and both these rotors are connected through transmission. This transmission in tandem-rotor is very sophisticated and requires professional planning and calculations before its implementation.
Difficult to Operate: These are not as easy to operate as single rotor helicopters. The reason is that two rotors are used to create a lift. So, along with the torque effect, the pilot also has to keep an eye on the synchronization of both rotors which needs prior knowledge and training.
In Co-Axial Rotor helicopters, there are two rotors mounted on a mast, one above the other, and both rotors rotate on the same axis. Both of these rotate in the opposite direction to minimize the effect of torque.
This type of special rotation is also known as Contra-Rotating. The most famous helicopter with co-axial rotors is Kamov Ka-27.
Co-Axial Rotor Helicopter
3.1History of Co-Axial Rotor Helicopters
The history of the coaxial-rotor system originates in Russia in around 1754, when Mikhail Lomonosov, a Russian Scientist displayed it in an exhibition.
There is also a rotorcraft manufacturing company in Russia, JSC Kamov, which is best known for developing co-axial rotor helicopters. So, one can assume that Russia is the founder and implementor of the co-axial rotor model of helicopters.
3.2How is Anti-Torque Generated in Co-Axial Rotor?
The anti-torque in co-axial rotor helicopters is generated by the rotors spinning in opposite directions. So, the torque generated by each rotor is canceled out by the torque of the other rotor. In this way, the net torque generated becomes zero.
To achieve the yaw control, the collective pitch of one rotor is increased and the collective pitch of the other rotor is decreased. With this, a net difference in the torque is created, and controlled rotational maneuvering or yaw is achieved.
The working of two rotors in the co-axial system is almost similar to the tandem rotor system. The only difference is that, in the co-axial rotor system, both rotors have the same axis, whereas in the tandem rotor system both rotors are physically separated from each other.
Increased Payload With Same Engine Power: When a tail rotor is used in a helicopter, some of the engine power needs to be shared with it. So, a part of the total engine power is wasted, but in the co-axial rotor system, all of the engine power is dedicated to creating the lift, thereby increasing the total payload capacity of the helicopter.
Reduced Noise: The noise levels in co-axial rotors are very less as compared to the single-rotor tail-rotor model. The collision of airflow from the main rotor and the tail rotor in single rotor helicopters can be noisy and severe in some designs. This airflow collision is absent in co-axial rotor systems.
Compact Size: The co-axial rotor helicopters have a smaller footprint on the ground. However, the height of the aircraft is a bit greater, but a smaller footprint is a helpful feature of this configuration. Due to this, they are easy to land in even narrow and confined spaces. Earlier discussed Kamov helicopters are widely used for naval roles as they are capable of landing on even small ships.
Increased Safety: The tail rotor in single-rotor helicopters is a dangerous component and can cause fatalities to the bystanders and ground staff. As there is not tail-rotor in co-axial rotor helicopters, these are safer on the ground.
Mechanical Complexity: Similar to Tandem-Rotor Helicopters, the mechanical design of these helicopters is complex. Since two rotors have to be fixed on the same axis, and both rotate in opposite directions, the transmission and links from the engine become much more complex.
Possibility of Self-Collision: According to aviation experts, this model is more prone to self-collision. When used with longer blades, the probability of self-collision of blades increases.
Prone To Mechanical Failures: The design of the co-axial rotors requires more moving parts and components, so this model has more chances of failure. Frequent mechanical failure is one of the main drawbacks of the co-axial rotor system.
Two rotors spinning in opposite directions are used in this model similar to tandem-rotor and co-axial rotor. But this model differs from the other two models in the fact that the rotors in this model are not parallel to the ground but are placed at some angle.
The movement of both rotors is synchronized in such a way that the blades intermesh with each other without colliding. This configuration of the rotors is also known as Synchropter.
4.1 Design of Intermeshing Rotor
Most of the arrangements with intermesh rotors have two blades in each mast. But some exceptions are also there like Kellet XR-10, which has 3 blades in each rotor. The complexity in design increases with the number of blades used in each mast.
Kaman K-MAX, an intermeshing rotor helicopter
The design of intermeshing rotors is not as efficient as in other models because the lift generated by each rotor is not purely vertical.
The first intermeshing rotor helicopter was developed by Anton Flettner, a German aviation engineer. It was developed for anti-submarine warfare. In 1951, an American experimental aircraft named Kaman K-225 became the world’s first gas turbine-powered helicopter.
Stability: The Intermeshing Rotor system provides good stability during flight. Stability is an important parameter when the overall performance of an aircraft is measured.
Good Lifting Capacity: The intermeshing helicopters are known for their powerful lifting capabilities. This is the reason why intermeshing rotor helicopters are used as cargo helicopters. These helicopters have applications in construction work etc where the heavy load needs to be lifted.
4.4 Disadvantages of Intermeshing Rotor helicopters
Complex Mechanical Design: The design of intermeshing is quite complex and flawless synchronization is required between the blades to avoid self-collision.
Reduced Efficiency: The overall efficiency of the intermesh rotor helicopters can be improved. Because both of the rotors are fixed at some angle rather than purely parallel to the ground due to which the maximum lift is not generated.
This limitation can never be overridden as it contradicts the basic principle of the intermeshing rotor system model.
So based upon the above parameters and performance, one can easily draw inferences and find out the most suitable helicopter according to the surroundings and other requirements. All of these outperform the other types in some parameters and all of these have some drawbacks. But the overall performance outperforms their drawbacks which makes them powerful, attractive, and luxurious machines.
Turbine Engines are also known as Turboshaft Engines. The age of Turbine engines started in 1951 when Charles H. Kaman, an American aeronautical engineer developed a new kind of engine for his K-225 Helicopter. This engine was later known as the Turboshaft Engine. Consequently, the K-225 helicopter became the first helicopter powered by a turboshaft engine.
In the first half of the 20th century, major improvements were done in fuels and the efficiency of engines. This led to the infrastructural development in the aviation world, mainly in helicopters. In the second half, improvements were done mainly to produce faster, bigger, and more powerful engines.
Every turbine engine has these three components. The combustion section and compressor unit are collectively known as Gas Generator Section. This gas generator section creates the input for the turbines i.e. hot expanding gases.
In most advanced engines, the gas generator section (combustion section + compressor unit) and turbine are physically separated from each other. The reason for this is to let these units move freely at different speeds. This type of design is known as Free Turbine Turboshaft.
Free Turbine Turboshaft model can be very useful in vehicles than the current reciprocating model of engines as it can minimize the heavyweight and cost overheads of transmission and clutch-system.
In the figure shown below, Combustion Section is represented by red color, the Compressor Unit by cyan, and the Turbine is shown by a purple color. Image Source: NASA
Turbine Engine Demonstration
Working Principle
Turbine engines are of different types for example
1. A Large Amount of air is drawn from the surroundings and is brought into the engine inlet. This stage is also widely known as Intake Stage. These inlets are of different shapes and sizes as per the needs of the airplane/jet.
2. At the backside of the inlet, there is a compressor. The main function of the compressor is to compress the air and increase the air pressure. This compression is achieved by a series/rows of airfoils, with each row contributing to the net increase in air pressure. When the air leaves the compressor, it has much more pressure than it had, when it entered the inlet. This stage is also known as Compress Stage.
A Turboshaft Engine
3. After leaving the compressor, the compressed air now becomes the input for the Burner. In the burner, this compressed air is mixed with a small amount of fuel and ignited. This stage is Power Generation Stage.
4. When the hot exhaust leaves the burner, it is then passed through a turbine. The turbine here works similarly to a windmill. In turbojet and turbofan engines, the turbines use a very small part of the exhaust power and use the major part of the power to create the thrust.
Whereas, in turboshaft engines, the turbine is connected to a rotor shaft, which uses the majority of power as no thrust is needed in turboshaft engines. This stage is the Exhaust stage.
Turbine Engines provide greater power than reciprocating engines. This is the reason why many military helicopters and utility helicopters use turbine engines. However, turbine engines cost a bit expensive and are costly to maintain. Therefore, smaller and lesser expensive helicopters use reciprocating engines.
Robinson R44 is an example of helicopter which is powered by a reciprocating engine.
2. Lesser Vibrations
The turbine engines produce very less vibrations during flight. As a result, turbine engines account for greater reliability and comfort during the flight.
In reciprocating engines, the vibrations are very high, which spoils the smoothness of the flight and also contributes to the wear and tear of the engine.
3. Small Size
Turboshaft Engines are more compact in size as compared to the legacy piston engines/ reciprocating engines. Smaller size means that less space is required for the engine and therefore the overall size of the aircraft can be reduced as per the needs.
Helicopters with smaller sizes are easier to land and easier to maintain when used for personal use.
4. Lightweight
Lightweight with compact size and a large amount of horsepower is an obvious advantage of the turbine engines. Due to this, turbine engines are used in helicopters, ships, tanks, etc.
Lower weight penalty and increased power in turbine engines increase the payload capacity of the Helicopter. The lightweight of the aircraft also makes it easier to handle the aircraft during the flight.
5. Ease Of Operation
Aircraft which use turbine engines are easier to operate and have fewer engine failures as compared to reciprocating engines.
Sometimes, while driving a car, due to minor failure in the engine, the engine stops working and the car shuts down. Suppose, if same engine failure happens when you are in mid-air, even for 1-2 seconds. Nightmare!
That could be fatal and led to a possible aircraft crash. This thing never happens with the turbine engines. So this is one of the main reasons why turbine engines are more useful.
6. Reliable
Turbine Engines are more reliable than reciprocating engines. Turbine engines are less prone to engine breakouts and the functioning of the engine is very smooth. The reason for this is the 98% to 100% combustion efficiency of the engine.
At sea level take-off conditions, the combustion efficiency is close to 100% and it decreases non-linearly as the altitude increases. So, a pilot tends to be happier when flying a turbine-powered helicopter rather than a helicopter with a reciprocating engine. 😁
For these reasons, it seems obvious that these turbine engines are much better than reciprocating/piston engines. But, this does not mean that reciprocating engines are inefficient and poor in performance. They have their own advantages and functions which may or may not be achieved by turbine engines.
Torque and Horsepower are the most important specifications in a car. Most people are familiar with power as it is a frequently used term, but understanding Torque can be a bit tricky if you did not like Physics in your high school.
So, today we will clear the high school doubts first with examples, and automatically this question will be answered (while keeping the Physics terminology to a minimum😁).
What is Torque ?
Torque is also known as Rotational Force, Moment, Moment of Force, or Turning Effect based upon the field of study. In Physics/ Mechanics, Torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force.
Here, Rotational Equivalent means the force that is applied to an object, and instead of moving linearly (i.e. up and down), the object rotates/ twists around a fixed axis.
Interior Of An Image
The second definition of Torque according to Wikipedia is the product of the magnitude of the force and the perpendicular distance of the line of action of a force from the axis of rotation.
SI Unit of Torque is Nm (newton meter). 1 Nm can be defined as the Torque which is generated when a force of 1 newton is applied perpendicularly to a lever arm that is 1 meter long.
In western countries, Torque is also measured in lb-ft (pounds-feet). 1 lb-ft is precisely equal to 1.3558179483314 Nm. For conversions between Nm and lb-ft, you can visit this website: Nm to lb-ft convertor.
How To Calculate Torque?
The formula for calculating torque is Simply, T = r * F where, T is the torque r is the distance between the fixed axis and the point where we apply the Force F), F is the applied force
In a vehicle, the torque describes its ability to turn the crankshaft. The pistons push on a lever called Journal, which causes the crankshaft to rotate, the crankshaft rotates the transmission, the transmission rotates the driver axles, the driver axles rotates the tires, and hence your car moves.
So, the higher the torque, the higher the force on tires, and the higher the pickup.
Crankshaft (red), Pistons (gray) in their cylinders (Blue), and Flywheel (black)
Importance of Torquein Vehicles
Torque helps in accelerating a vehicle. Therefore, 0-60 mph time of cars is also dependent upon the torque along with the horsepower. If a car provides a good amount of torque, then the car will accelerate faster and a greater force will be exerted on its tires. Higher torque means faster 0-60mph time.
The torque in pickup-type vehicles is always large. For example, GMC Hummer Pickup provides a far greater torque than a Volkswagen Tiguan. The reason for this is also the same. When a truck or a bus is fully loaded, the pistons must provide enough force to rotate the crankshaft.
The torque in diesel engines is always greater than the petrol engines. The petrol engine in Toyota Fortuner has a capacity of 3956cc which produces 376Nm of torque. Whereas, the diesel variant of the same car has 1251cc lesser capacity and still it manages to provide a maximum torque of 420 Nm.
The reason behind it is that diesel engines provide longer strokes. In simple terms, the longer the pistons travel in the air, the more air it compresses in the cylinder and the greater the potential energy becomes, and hence the greater the torque becomes.
Torque Vs. Horsepower
Torque and Horsepower are so related to each other and still so different from one another. I think they are complementary to each other.
Torque is the engine’s rotational force. It means the amount of work an engine can do. on the other hand, horsepower means how quickly that work can be done.
In layman’s terms, horsepower means how hard can you hit a wall with your car, and torque means how far can you go after hitting that wall. A professional biker and an engine geek once shared this beautiful example. A more perfect example does not exist.
The GMC Hummer EV is an off-road luxury all-electric vehicle made by GMC. The Hummer EV includes a Pickup Truck and an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle).
Our Verdict: Impeccable design with powerful all-electric engine and better performance both on and off-road. 4.5 out of 5stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
The world’s first all-electric super truck was unveiled by General Motors recently and the first looks are quite impressive. With all the leading Automobile Companies switching gradually to electric cars, how can one not expect General Motors to retaliate?
The new Hummer EV is super impressive in its looks and specifications. Perfect for every terrain, be it off-road or highways the super-truck is going to impress you.
The interiors are quite premium and comfortable, so no matter how rugged, how rough and rocky the outdoor terrain gets, inside you will enjoy every moment.
Now, let’s not waste time and quickly jump on to the exciting features of the GMC Hummer EV.
Hummer EVInteriors :
The Supertruck has improved its interiors drastically in this electric edition. The High-Definition screen, with posh looking seat-leather which has a quite innovative design and since it is an Electric Vehicle, there is no bulky petrol engine and thus space in the front trunk also adds on to the cargo area.
The 12.3″ (diagonally) colored Driver Information Center display which contains all the driver tools eg tachometer, battery, speedometer, odometer, etc and the center-mounted 13.4″ diagonal color touchscreen in the front which is made very carefully to optimize the user experience and UI is completely user friendly and less sophisticated even to new drivers.
13.4″ Infotainment Touchscreen
2. Hummer Seats and Flooring
The interior of the Hummer EV SUV comes in two variants ie Lunar Shadow Interior and Lunar Horizon Interior.
The former one has a combination of black and dark grey which is completed by Tech Bronze accents and the latter one has a black and light grey combination with all-weather flooring which adds to its interior beauty.
LUNAR SHADOW INTERIORLUNAR HORIZON INTERIOR
3. Storage
A spacious boot with the folding rear seats with a 110V power outlet in the back makes a lot of storage area and if you are going to some off-road picnic this will definitely impress you.
Spacious Front Trunk Hummer EV
Hummer EVExteriors
Exterior specifications are what make Hummer the top choice of truck lovers. The front lightening is very distinctive in Hummer EV which synchronizes with the upright windshield and the unique 3D effect of the taillights.
The Green Matte paint finish looks gorgeous and eye-catching and the transparent sky panels are tinted to deflect the UV rays without affecting the breathtaking views.
Hummer EV SUV (Left) and Pickup (Right)
Ultravision
The Hummer EV Pickup provides 18 cameras whereas Hummer EV SUV has 17 cameras to provide real-time information of the surroundings and terrain.
Multiple cameras can be used to display a digital overhead image of the area around HUMMER EV, Surround Vision of Hummer EV allows to maneuver off-road and rough terrain and navigate tight spaces when traveling at low speeds.
Ultravision with HD Surround Vision
Hummer EV Power & Torque
The Hummer Supertruck is super powerful with up to 1000 HP capacity in Pickup and up to 830 HP in SUV with the maximum torque of 11,500 LB-FT which is roughly equal to 15591.91 Nm and that is just impressive.
It has a unique feature to improve the center of gravity by lowering the vehicle by up to 2 inches. The SUV is claimed to reach 0-60 in just 3.5 seconds whereas Pickup reaches 0-60 in just 3 seconds.
Hummer EV Charging Efficiency
Since the only problem with Electric vehicles is the high charging time, this problem is also well taken care of. The Hummer EV provides 800V fast charging with up to 350KW fast charging on Pickup and 300KW charging on SUV.
One full charge on Pickup gives a range of 350+ miles, whereas full charge on SUV gives 300+ miles range. A 10 minutes charging is sufficient to run the super truck for 100 miles. The GMC has definitely improved the charging efficiency in the Hummer EV.
Hands-Free Driving
With the latest version of Super Cruise, Hummer EV offers hands-free driving and Automatic lane changing.
This is the feature where most of the leading car manufacturers are researching and continuously improving the Artificial Intelligence and technology behind its working.
35″ Tires
Hummer EV uses 35″ Goodyear Wrangler Territory Tires which provides a good ground clearance as well as is perfect for off-roading in rugged terrain.
The good thing is that those who want more can customize the tires to 37″ aftermarket and Hummer EV is engineered in such a way that it fits well with 37 inches tires.
35 Inches Hummer EV Tires
Hummer EV Specifications :
Length
206.7″/196.8″
Height
80.9″
Max Width, w/Mirrors
93.7″
Max Width, w/o Mirrors
86.5″
Wheelbase
126.7″
Ground Clearance
12″/16″ (in Extract Mode)
Approach Angle
49.6°
Departure Angle
45.6°/49.0°
Turning Circle (4-wheel steering)
35.4′
Turning Circle (2-wheel steering)
45.3′
Hummer EV SUV Specifications
TOP RIVAL :
Tesla’s Cybertruck: Tesla’s Cybertruck which is also All-Electric and having a good range can compete with the GMC’s Hummer EV. Read more about Tesla Cybertruck here.
With the frequent hikes in gas prices, registration fees, the demand for vehicles with good mileage, great power at a reasonable price have increased. Due to increase in the oil prices, a big chunk of population these days looks for affordable cars rather than expensive and dashing cars.
The continuous improvement in technology and infrastructure in the automobile industry has made it possible for a common family man to buy a good car at a sensible price. In the following part, we will be discussing the top ten most affordable cars in 2022.
1. Suzuki Alto
Suzuki Alto2022 is a leading 5-seater hatchback that was recently updated. The Petrol variant of Suzuki Alto in India starts from 2.99 Lakhs (ex-showroom) for the base variant having a 799cc powerful engine that produces a maximum power of 35.3KW @6000 RPM with manual transmission and maximum torque of 69 Nm @ 3500 RPM.
It was Maruti Suzuki’s second best-selling hatchback with more than 154,000 units sold in 2020 in India. The new Alto comes with ABS (with EBD) and dual airbags which add to its safety.
Suzuki Alto 2022
2. Renault Kwid
Renault Kwid is one of the most affordable cars with an attractive and sporty look. The Renault Kwid produces power of 54PS and maximum torque of 72 Nm with its 799cc, 3 cylinder engine which is enough for small to medium rides on highways as well as in the city. The company ARAI mileage of Renault Kwid is around 22 Kmpl.
Renault Kwid has all the features that are required in a car. The sporty look similar to the Hyundai i10, SUV-styled headlamps, and multi-spoke wheels makes it unique and attractive to the buyers. With the ex-showroom price of Rs. 3.18 Lakhs, it is worth the money.
Renault Kwid 2022
3. Suzuki S-Press
Suzuki S-Presso was one of the best-selling cars of Suzuki in 2020. It is run by a 998cc engine with a maximum output of 50KW @5500 RPM and maximum torque of 90Nm @3500 RPM. The power and Torque of the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso are almost similar to Maruti Suzuki WagonR. Fuel Tank is limited to 27 liters which is one of the obvious drawbacks.
Maruti Suzuki S-Presso has a strong HEARTECT platform that ensures safety and stability with its energy-absorbing structure similar to Maruti Suzuki WagonR. The ARAI claimed mileage is 21.4 Kmpl. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso ex-showroom price starts from 3.7 Lakhs.
Suzuki S-Presso 2022
4. Datsun GO
Datsun Go has really improved over the years and no doubt it has emerged as a good family car at a reasonable price and good maintenance cost. The Datsun Go is run by 3 cylinder engine with 1186cc capacity that produces a maximum power of 50kW (68PS) @ 5000 RPM and torque of 104Nm @ 4000 RPM.
The ARAI mileage for Datsun GO is 19.02 Kmpl. Safety features for Datsun Go include Central Locking, Driver and Passenger Airbags, Seat Belt reminders, ABS with EBD, and Brake Assist. These features will suffice the price and this car is really worth its price. Ex-showroom of Datsun Go starts from 4.02 Lakhs
Datsun GO 2022
5. Suzuki Celerio
Suzuki produces the best-selling hatchbacks in India with a lot of varieties for a variety of buyers. The Maruti Suzuki’s second hatchback in terms of affordability is Celerio with a more powerful engine with 998 cc that produces a maximum power of 50KW at 6000rpm and maximum torque of 90Nm at 3500rpm.
Celerio also has some attractive features including Electronic Power Steering, Seat Belt Reminder, Speed Alert System, ABS with EBD which gives it an upper hand over Maruti Alto. The Top Rival of Maruti Suzuki Celerio is Tata Tiago. The ex-showroom price for Maruti Suzuki Celerio starts at Rs 4.65 Lakhs.
Suzuki Celerio 2022
6. Hyundai Santro2022
The New Hyundai Santro comes with smart features like Auto AMT, 17.64cm touchscreen AV with phone connectivity, Rear AC vents, Tall Boy Design, and spacious boot. The powerful 1086cc engine ensures maximum power of 68.07 bhp @5500 RPM and maximum torque of 99 Nm @4500 RPM.
The company claimed mileage is around 20Kmpl which is lower than Maruti Suzuki Celerio. Hyundai Santro is a good option for highways but in hilly areas and traffic stuck cities lower mileage than its contemporaries can be a concern. The top rivals of Hyundai Santro are Maruti Suzuki Celerio and Tata Tiago. The ex-Showroom price for New Hyundai Santro starts from 4.74 Lakhs.
Hyundai Santro 2022
7. Suzuki WagonR
Suzuki WagonR has been updated recently and it has become bigger and smarter. It is run by a 998 cc engine with a maximum output of 50KW @5500 RPM and maximum torque of 90Nm @3500 RPM. It is similar to Maruti Suzuki Celerio in its specifications.
The ARAI claimed mileage is 20.52 km/l which is nearly equal to the mileage of Tata Tiago and lesser than the mileage of Maruti Suzuki Celerio.
Maruti Suzuki boasts the strong HEARTECT platform which ensures safety and stability with its energy-absorbing structure. Dual Airbags and ABS with EBD adds to its safety. The ex-showroom price of Maruti Suzuki WagonR starts from 4.80 Lakhs. The top rivals of Maruti Suzuki WagonR are Maruti Suzuki Celerio and Tata Tiago.
Maruti Suzuki WagonR 2022
8. Tata Tiago
The Tata Tiago has an upper hand over Suzuki Celerio for its more powerful engine and its safety features. The Tata Tiago is run by 1.2L, 3 cylinders with a capacity of 1199cc which produces a maximum power of 86PS or 63KW @6000 RPM and maximum torque of 113 Nm @3300 RPM. Tata Tiago has a good ground clearance of 170mm. It is one of the most affordable cars from Tata Motors.
For safety and security, Tata Tiago offers Dual Airbags, Rear Parking cameras, ABS with EBD and CSC, strong energy-absorbing body structure, speed-sensitive auto door locking. The ex-showroom price for Tata Tiago in 2022 starts from Rs 4.85 Lakhs.
Tata Tiago 2022
9. Suzuki Swift
Suzuki Swift is a leading 5-seater hatchback that has been recently updated and is the best-selling hatchback with more than 160,000 units sold in 2020. The Ex-Showroom price starts from 5.73 Lakhs in India for the base variant.
The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) mileage is above 23 km/l for both Automatic and Manual variants. Maruti Suzuki Swift is run by a 1197cc 4 cylinder engine which ensures maximum power of 66KW @6000 RPM and maximum torque of 113 Nm @4400 RPM. Fuel Tank capacity is 37 Litres which gives it an upper hand over its contemporaries.
Maruti Suzuki Swift 2022
10. Hyundai Grand i10 Nios
The Grand i10 Nios is the most powerful, most attractive, most feature-loaded, and most expensive in this list of most affordable cars.
The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is run by a 1.2 liter Kappa engine that has a capacity of 1197cc with 83PS @6000 RPM and maximum torque of 11.6 K Kg.m @4000 RPM with a fuel tank capacity of 37 liters, highest among other 9 in this list. Dual Airbags are available even in the base variant along with ABS with EBD.
One unique feature of this car is a wireless phone charger. There is also a Smartkey with Push Button Start/Stop which is only available in its top variant, Hyundai i10 Nios Asta, as of now. The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios ex-showroom price starts from 5.19 Lakhs.
Hyundai Grand i10 Nios 2022
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