Impressive: Building A Silent Helicopter Blade

ErikStenger

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Helicopters are loud as shit and a lot of times I have to cover my ears with my hands on the helipad waiting for my pilot to bring the bird down. It gets annoying, especially when you've got two briefcases full of gold bullion handcuffed to your wrists, WHICH I ALWAYS DO.

Helicopters make a lot of noise because of a physical phenomenon called blade-vortex interaction.

The new blade shape is combined with another technology called Blue Pulse, which adds three flaps to the edge of the rotor blades. These flaps move up and down at 15 to 40 times per second, using piezoelectric motors that also help to reduce the blade-vortex interaction.

Well I think I speak for all private-helicopter owners when I say, "IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!" Do you know what this means? It means I'll be hovering silently outside your bedroom window in no time! Now, change into your PJ's. DOOOO IT!

Hit the jump for a video comparison of the two different blades in action.

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Eurocopter Moves One Step Closer to ‘Whisper Mode’
Read More http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/02/eurocopter-moves-one-step-closer-to-whisper-mode/#ixzz0gkQIGErL
 
I saw a tv show on it. But never realy heard the difference. Looks like the sound of an airplane. Nice post! :B
 
For a helicopter, that's very silent.
 
They just got rid of the "whiplash" effect which happens at the end of the blades it seems with this...

I mean, you can't be TOTALLY silent - it's still a piece of metal which pushes a lot of air. There's only so much you can do.

Nevertheless, way cool.
 
Dude, can we have a location and time, where and when, you will be with those briefcases, pls? Might come say hello....with high powered rifle...LOL
 
Very interesting! But you would think by now we wouldn't need blades at all. Give me the future not the past ;p
 
the blades look like friggin scythes. that alone would be intimidating and maybe get whatever heli is equipped with them a nice dark name :D
 
Err... not really a new design, I fly R/C helis, and its been used on models for a while now. They are not just quieter, but more efficient too, good stuff.
 
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