What Purpose Of Rotor Head Dome In Helicopter?

[Adrianli]

i think is to think for a radar to sit in and to small. Mb for the for this yes

I believe u have not seen or notice too many radars yet. They come in various shape, size n purpose. Do a research on that. I cant tell u more as tis is a public forum. These stuff r damn secretive one.

I do know some ships have aerial antenna shaped like the button on top of the rotor blades.


If u wana know more, join the military service.

[Brandon Chng]

probably aerodynamics? since the parts can be quite complex and cause quite alot of drag during fast forward flight

[Super-Hornet]

I also have some question, If it is for aerodynamics, helicopter like Sea King and Super Stallion is design for heavy lifter and for search and rescue. It is not mend for high speed helicopter like Lynx or other smaller, 3 or 4 bladed heli. So, the aerodynamics may not make any different right? Or am I wrong?

SH

[Helicopter]

I would this dome 'thingy' have several purposes:

1) Radar radome for some
2) Aerodynamic during upwards lift as to reduce the air resistance compare to a flat surface or none at all. At such the airflow is toward the blades hving a slight increase in lift? not to sure on this.
3) Bling factor. It looks better than with the dome.

[Brandon Chng]

i think maybe during forward flight only? cause the rotor will have to be at an angle to the airflow in order to thrust the heli forward...so when in forward flight the rotor is tilted down, and the dome can smoothen the airflow around the grips and hub

[Super-Hornet]

Ehhh... In multibladed rotor head... They are a rigid head right? If so, the rotor head will not tilt (unlike teeter head in Jet Ranger or Huey). That is why if u look carefully on multibladed head, the whole head (including the shaft) is design to tilted forward at an angle.

Then... Why Sikorsky Hawk series (blackhawk, pavehawk, nighthawk, seahawk) do not have those dome?

SH

[mave]

this for sure is radar

i think is to think for a radar to sit in and to small. Mb for the for this yes

[yC86]

It's more for protection.. maybe some degree of aiding in aerodynamic efficiency. protection from bird strike and FOD onto the complex linkages which might jam stuff up? u nv know what FOD might churn up from the ground or trees during a low hover..

definately not radar. these helis are not gunships/attack helis either. no reason for them to have a radar. don't have to see weather or other aircraft.. there are other small pods and domes on helis that require it.. either for SAR or ASW.. etc

Its also more costly to design a non rotating radome onto a rotating shaft, that's why only few heli like the kiowa and longbow have.

[Brandon Chng]

Ehhh... In multibladed rotor head... They are a rigid head right? If so, the rotor head will not tilt (unlike teeter head in Jet Ranger or Huey). That is why if u look carefully on multibladed head, the whole head (including the shaft) is design to tilted forward at an angle.

Then... Why Sikorsky Hawk series (blackhawk, pavehawk, nighthawk, seahawk) do not have those dome?

SH

maybe because they don't feel a need for it... just like we may never know why a bmw has these features that a merc doesn't have, yet noone feels a need to correct anything

[khpan2003]

protection for the 1st hit by enemy gun fire on the linkage

[yC86]

maybe because they don't feel a need for it... just like we may never know why a bmw has these features that a merc doesn't have, yet noone feels a need to correct anything

yah.. kinda feel that way also..
sometimes they just include it to 'complete' the 'look'..

[yC86]

I also have some question, If it is for aerodynamics, helicopter like Sea King and Super Stallion is design for heavy lifter and for search and rescue. It is not mend for high speed helicopter like Lynx or other smaller, 3 or 4 bladed heli. So, the aerodynamics may not make any different right? Or am I wrong?

SH

think its just like for aircraft.. the 747 was one of the first airliner to introduce the winglets (am i right?).. since then alot of other designers have been using winglets too. airbus have their own double fin design, boeing uses a simple fin.

but the 777 design was so aerodynamically efficient that they concluded that it does not need a winglet..

[temannis]

hummm seems like Russian heli don't have it.

[Brandon Chng]

russians heck care everything one...hehehehe

they would probably take it out and use it as a bbq pit during war.

[Super-Hornet]

russians heck care everything one...hehehehe

they would probably take it out and use it as a bbq pit during war.

Who said Russian heck care?

Most Russia Helicopter do have similar dome. The russia rotor dome either looks more like lynx's rotor dome or more like some gyroscopic disc.

Here are some of the pictures.
Mil Mi-24 (Remember Rambo 3 movie?)
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