Helicopter blade assembly adapted

Abstract

A helicopter blade assembly for permitting rapid forward flight in a helicopter having separate means for providing a forward impetus is disclosed. The assembly has a set of rotatable blades attached to a substantially vertical mast. These blades slope downward near to their distal ends, thereby creating an inverted disk virtual air foil when the blades are rapidly rotated by the mast. In a preferred embodiment the camber of the blades and, therefore, the shape of the virtual air foil is controllable.

1 . A helicopter blade assembly for permitting rapid forward flight in a helicopter having separate means for providing a forward impetus, comprising: 
 substantially vertical mast; and    a set of rotatable blades which sweep out the shape of a virtual disk having the properties of a lifting body when they are rapidly rotated by the mast.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising means for controlling the camber of the blades, thereby controlling the shape of the virtual disk.