Agusta Westland 609

"bi-bird" (think about it, but not too hard)

Humm, a single rotor 'copter with no tail rotor?

The props will take care of any directional needs, no tail rotor needed..

Here is another one with no stinkin tail rotor:

So if the motor on either prop has a bad day, hello pinwheel?

A curious creature for sure

http://www.eurocopter.com/site/imagevue/EN//content/RUB_1100/cdph-2513-167.jpg

The tilt-rotor designs can fly with one engine out -

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...ockwell-collins-and-bae-aw609-civil-tiltrotor

So apparently there is a jackshaft buried in the wing to connect the power units.

Kelly

Hmm, I don't see it myself no 'mo.

Will go back and see if I can find a better source.

The Copter is called a NOTAR, as in NO TAil Rotor.

NOTAR...Pic lifted from Wiki

Back in the '90s and early 2000s the police department here flew a NOTAR type chopper -

http://www.policehelicopterpilot.co...oenix-police-department-air-support-unit.html

When these were flying near my house, they were substantially quieter than any conventional chopper. Not exactly down to the stealth technology level, but still an impressive improvement in noise level. I would think these would be a natural choice for yacht tenders.

Kelly

Huh? That there picture ain't no NOTAR..

Correct. But the text in the article below the photo does outline the NOTAR program at the Phoenix Police Dept. Unfortunately it does not go into why the dept did not stick with NOTAR.

Kelly

I'm surprised the prop/rotors are that big!