Text Box: 250 RPM rotation 14" to 20" diameter change Push-button Control Rotor diameter is adjusted by push button Automatic Control Rotor diameter is automatically adjusted as the rotor is tilted Aluminum base, clear PVC torque tubes, UHMW Polyethylene sliders Rack and Pinion actuation Stepper motor rated at 665 oz-in of torque

       

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Tiltrotor aircraft, such as the Bell-Boeing V-22 aircraft shown to the left, are the advent of an exciting new era of state-of-the-art rotorcraft. These vehicles are capable of hovering, but can change the position of their rotors when in forward motion to travel up to 3 times as fast as a conventional helicopter. Currently, tiltrotor aircraft have fixed diameter rotors. These large rotors provide ample lift for hovering, but are inefficient when flying forward, since lift is provided by the wings of the aircraft in this mode of travel. One solution that industry and universities are currently researching, and the basis for this project, is the variable diameter tiltrotor aircraft. This aircraft would use large-diameter rotors for hovering, but would retract the rotor blades by 30% for forward flight, saving energy and providing more balance to the aircraft.