Introducing the Challis Heli-Plane

One of the many unique aspects of the Challis Heli-Plane is that there is only one fixed wing that is located on the retreating blade side of the aircraft. The one small fixed wing on the retreating blade side begins to produce lift at high airspeed to coincide when the retreating blade is starting to loose its ability to maintain lift. This design presents an opportunity for an aircraft to have a balanced relationship at high speeds between a rotating blade and one fixed wing.

Challis Heli-Plane in Flight

Challis Heli-Plane Blue Print Features

CENTER OF LIFT IN CRUISE The main rotors on a heli-plane in the cruise flight only provide lift, as opposed to the rotors on a helicopter that are providing lift and thrust in cruise. The center of lift of the rotor blades on this heli-plane design will migrate forward with increased speed of the aircraft. In order to have a balanced flight condition, the downward angled horizontal stabilizer or tail wing has to provide lift at the rear of the heli-plane when in forward flight. The lift force that is generated from the tail wing as the speed of the aircraft increases is necessary to off set this condition of forward migrating center of lift.

CENTER of LIFT IN THE HOVER When the heli-plane is in the hover, the flight conditions are exactly the same as a conventional helicopter, the center of lift, and the center of gravity, are in line with the main rotor mast.