Aviation 2050 Vision *sOT*

by ZackDark , Not behind you. NO! Don't look., Sunday, June 30, 2013, 20:22 (4175 days ago) @ stabbim

Question - some of the rotor aircraft shown had a sort of ring structure enclosing their rotor blades. Anyone know whether that is purely a safety mechanism (to prevent the rotors from contacting structures and/or faces), or whether there is some aerodynamic benefit?

There's a very perceptible aerodynamic benefit on large aircraft, assuming the extra weight is negligible to the project's scope.

The ring kindda cancels out energy loss due to air escaping the blades sideways, instead of only downwards, so you have a better 'use' of the air the blades move. It's obviously far more complicated than that, but basically, that's it.