Hey guys,
What can we do with this stuff?
http://www.wservernews.com/XYJ5LW/080526-Smart-Materials

Jim Brewer

Variable pitch props and variable twist props for VTOL!
VTOL is the wave of the future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdIq6bdinZM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ybm05EYWg


http://www.rotaryeng.net/VTOL.html

"No discussion on the controversial V22 tilt rotor would be complete without
a discussion on Vortex Ring State or VRS for short. An issue has been made about
the V22 Osprey's 47 degree blade twist and how it affects the Vortex Ring State.
Unlike a helicopter high blade twist is necessary in a tilt rotor to get good
propeller efficiency at high speed. This high twist can cause blade stall in
the vertical landing mode. I also suspect it affects the ability of the V22
to auto rotate.

The V22 can roll over if one rotor stalls and the opposite side rotor does
not stall. Special landing techniques have been devised to overcome the problem
namely by limiting the decent rate to 1000 FPM.

What the V22 Osprey critics don't realize is an off the shelf variable twist
rotor blade such as we are proposing above is already on the market and has
been proved to work. Namely the IVO. Thousands have been sold over the past ten years.

Contact IVO and see if they will build a variable twist rotor for your
needs. http://www.ivoprop.com/ if I were Bell/Boeing I would be looking
long and hard at this option for the V22 rotors.

We are not affected to the same extent as the V22 is to VRS as we have
only one rotor axis. However blade twist negatively affects the efficiency
of the rotor in the vertical take off mode. Never the less Boeing is working
on their own system of variable blade twist. Here is a graphic that gives
some estimated performance improvements."