What are the drawbacks of this compared to coaxial configuration with a turboshaft engine?
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$\begingroup$ Even on piston engine helicopters the rotors are not directly connected to the engine, they go through a transmission. I don't see why you couldn't, although the O-320 probably wouldn't have enough power to turn two full-size rotors. $\endgroup$– Ron BeyerJan 28, 2021 at 17:56
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$\begingroup$ It is theoretically possible to mount coaxial helicopter rotors on any engine, but it would not be economically feasible on a small engine like an O-320. Turboshaft engines typically have much more power than an O-320. Why would you compare an O-320 engine to a turboshaft engine? $\endgroup$– Mike SowsunJan 28, 2021 at 17:57
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$\begingroup$ What the hell... Once again a totally legit question here, and someone gives it a minus one. Come on guys/gals... at least have the courtesy of commenting why you think this is a bad question! $\endgroup$– Jpe61Jan 28, 2021 at 19:06
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2 Answers
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Stan Hiller's earliest helo designs were coaxial and used relatively small 4-cylinder aircraft engines to drive the coax transmission, so it is indeed possible to power a small coaxial helicopter with a relatively small piston engine.
Hiller also found that autorotating a coax main rotor blade setup was difficult and so his later designs used a more conventional single main rotor blade and a tail rotor.
answered Jan 28, 2021 at 18:50
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$\begingroup$ That's interesting about the autorotation problems. Must've been related to the mechanism he was using to get differential torque for yaw control? $\endgroup$– John KJan 29, 2021 at 1:32
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Sure. Earliest Kamov production helos - Ka-8 and Ka-10 - were powered by piston engines.
