A fenestron is a wrapped tail rotor design for helicopters, developed in Europe, that reduces risks to ground crews, noise, and turbulence. However, it adds weight and increases operating expenses. Ground crews must be careful around the tail, and pilots require special training.
A fenestron is a type of tail rotor for a helicopter with a wrapped design intended to make the rotor more efficient. This design was developed in Europe and can be seen on a range of helicopter models as an alternative to the traditional exposed tail rotor. The purpose of the tail rotor is to counteract the torque created by the aircraft’s main rotor, keeping the helicopter stable and on course while airborne; without a tail rotor, the helicopter will tend to spin, and this is undesirable.
There are a number of advantages to the fenestron design. Having a cover over the rotor reduces risks to ground crews and also limits foreign object design. The many small blades are less noisy and the use of the cover reduces turbulence. This makes the helicopter less noisy and also reduces vibration, creating a more comfortable ride. The design, essentially that of a ducted fan, also works more efficiently than a traditional tail rotor.
The disadvantages of the fenestron mainly surround the increased weight of the design. Skin on the shell adds weight to the tail and can unbalance a helicopter unless it is designed to accommodate it. Having more weight also increases operating expenses, since more fuel is required to lift the helicopter, maintain altitude, and power it. These tradeoffs may be acceptable in some cases when weighing the benefits of the fenestron design.
While the fenestron is safer than a regular rotator, there are still some risks for ground crews. Clothing and hair must be secured while working around the tail to avoid hazards, and people must also be careful with their limbs as they can be sucked into the fenestron and seriously injured. When technicians inspect helicopters, the blades should be inspected to make sure they are working properly, checking for issues like dents and cracks caused by foreign objects, as well as loose bolts and other potential issues.
Some helicopters do away with the tail rotor entirely, using a different method to work against the torque of the air blades. No matter which system is used, learning to fly a helicopter requires special training, since these planes handle very differently from airplanes. While some pilots train on both types of aircraft for flexibility, it’s more common for people to focus on learning to fly one or the other.
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