AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2011 - 75

when medical treatment of injuries is most effective—to get patients to the hospital. Here are some other advantages discussed by various team members: It can fly backward at 60 knots, getting out of range of a sniper while continuing to aim the helicopter’s guns at the threat. Most helicopters fly backward at only 10 or 15 knots in daily practice, although higher speeds are possible. It can hover nose low, hanging on its prop, again to keep guns on a target, or hover nose high if the threat is from above. It doesn’t need a tail rotor because with two counter-rotating rotors, there’s no torque to correct. The tail rotor on conventional helicopters consumes 15 percent of available power just to keep it straight. “We harness that power and put it into the rotors,” said Doug Shidler, director of the S–97 Raider program. The rear prop can be removed from the power train with a clutch, greatly reducing noise for a helicopter that might be approaching a noise-sensitive area. The prop is always turning at the same revolutions per minute. The pilot simply changes the pitch of the blades using a blip switch under his left thumb. The X2 retains all the best characteristics of a helicopter, but flies at fixed-wing turboprop speeds, Weiner noted. The pilot can accelerate from a level attitude by changing the pitch of the prop, or stop on a dime by using the prop. That means a helicopter can approach a target fast; screech to a halt, so to speak; and descend to unload people or cargo. The “Happy” button Director of Testing Dave Walsh gave the nickname “Happy Gilmore” to a contractor who was playing golf when he was supposed to be installing a data collection system in the X2. (Walsh sits in a room styled after NASA’s Mission Control, getting data from 10 engineers and talking with Bredenbeck.) The special button was installed to send a burst of data from time to time, and it became common to request that the “Happy” button be pushed. Even the last flight on July 14 was gathering data, and there came a request for “Happy” data over the loudspeakers. Communications were shared with the crowd, if not the explanation of the Happy button. Walsh said 60 percent of the personnel on the team are active general aviation fanatics, either as pilots of Experimental aircraft, builders, or owners. Weiner said many of the younger engineers,
AOPA PILOT • 75 • OCTOBER 2011

Pilots are a hearty breed, but even the heartiest among us can sometimes be grounded for medical issues. That’s why we’re proud to introduce the AOPA Medical Services Program — a new and comprehensive service developed by pilots for pilots to help keep you ﬂying. We’ll review your medical records prior to your application. Make sure your medications don’t interfere with your ﬂying. And keep you up to date on the latest medical news. This program is new to AOPA members, and new to the industry — there’s no other program for GA pilots with this many beneﬁts at one low price.

Here’s what you’ll get when you enroll:
• Access to AOPA Medical Specialists, who will answer your FAA medical certiﬁcation questions • Review of your medical records as it pertains to your FAA medical certiﬁcate • A liaison between you and the FAA • Customized online health risk assessments and information • Secure online medical records storage site • Informative medical e-newsletter geared toward pilots

Plus, a FREE prescription drug discount card with savings of 15% to 60%.
(Our Essential Package is $37 a year and includes the same valuable beneﬁts except review of your medical records.)

http://www.aopa.org/medicalservices http://www.aopa.org/medicalservices

AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2011