EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - If you've ever ridden in a car that can park itself at the push of a button, you'll appreciate the achievement of Skyryse, which has made a fully-conforming production helicopter that can hover with the swipe of a finger, David Szondy writes for New Atlas. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
16 January 2024 - Flying a helicopter demands constant attention and coordination of both hands and feet to operate multiple controls. The cyclic control, resembling a joystick, adjusts the main rotor’s pitch for directional movement, while the collective control, located beside the pilot, changes blade pitch to manage lift. The throttle on the collective adjusts engine power to match blade pitch, and foot pedals control the tail rotor for directional steering.
"Until today, every helicopter ever built has taken off using basically the same mechanical controls that Igor Sikorsky used in his first flight 85 years ago," said Mark Groden, CEO of Skyryse. "This latest accomplishment – following our successful achievement of the world’s first fully-automated autorotation, the world’s first aircraft flown with a single control stick, and the world’s first engine-start with the swipe of a finger – will allow any pilot, regardless of experience level, to achieve a perfect takeoff, every time, with just the swipe of a finger."
Related: Skyryse debuts its single-stick, double touch screen operated helicopter
Related: Skyryse unveils updated digital cockpit design for Skyryse One
Related: FAA awards Special Airworthiness Certificate to Skyryse
Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
