Bell Reveals New Tail Rotor System

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Bell reveals new tail rotor system

The Bell helicopter company revealed it has been testing a revolutionary new electrically driven anti-torque (EDAT) system. Replacing the conventional tail rotor, it consists of four small fans within the tail section, in an offset two-by-two pattern. Each of the rotors features four blades. The rotors are powered by four separate motors, with electric power provided through generators driven by the turbine engines.

Bell Helicopter Canada made a promotional video on the EDAT system, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJUgmeSYox4

The new EDAT system has been installed in a Bell 429 GlobalRanger helicopter, registration C-FYQB (msn 54802). This helicopter was test flown from Bell's facility in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada. Since 23 May 2019 this EDAT prototype has logged some 25 flight hours.

Removing all of the conventional mechanical anti-torque components (gearboxes, drive shafts and tail rotor hub and blades) and replacing these by four electric motors and fans has several advantages. According to the Bell company, EDAT offers increased safety, as only one fan will offer enough anti-torque action during an emergency. By using fly-by-wire controls, an impressive reduction in weight is achieved, and, not unimportant nowadays, the system offers a vast noise reduction over a conventional tail rotor. It is expected that the new system will become available for all of Bell's commercial helicopters in the future.

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