MACHINE DESIGN Magazine published an article about the CarterCopter (CC) on April 18, 1996, titled 'Greatest plane ever - or a pipe dream'? This title sums up the response the CarterCopter has drawn since its development was first announced in 1995. The following paper provides the basic information needed to understand the design approach that makes the CarterCopter possible. Our initial tests using a 1/6 scale model in our 'poor boy' wind-tunnel (see below) showed that the CarterCopter can fly faster, more efficiently than any other rotorcraft - including the current tilt-rotor designs and in many cases fixed wing aircraft. This conclusion continues to be supported by all flight test data collected since the prototype began flying in September 1998.
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