Aerial Forum

Let us consider the variously named Classic, Single-Rotor or Penny-Farthing helicopter configuration. Is there any logic that determines the directions in which the main and tail rotors should turn?

First - the main, or lifting, rotor. Which way should that be designed to turn? There seems to be no over-riding advantage for either a clockwise rotation (viewed from above) or a counter-clockwise rotation. However, the author notes that, with few exceptions, helicopter designs originating on the west side of the Atlantic turn anti-clockwise...