Apr 092020
A mid-1960’s magazine ad, selling Sikorsky’s experience at developing stowed-rotor technology. The design used was a concept for a CARA (Combat Aircrew Recovery Aircraft), intended to dash at high speed over the jungles of Viet Nam, hover like a helicopter and winch up a downed pilot, then dash back to base. To do this the aircraft used a rotor that was spun up not by a mechanical drive system, but by tapping off the exhaust of the turbojet engines and routing it through ducts to the rotor tips. Doubtless it would have worked… and doubtless the transition phase would have been interesting and exciting.
