Fun Fact!

"Rainbow" (rainbeaux) 12/15/2016 at 09:07 • Filed to: None

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You probably have assumed that the roots of the word “helicopter” are “heli” and “copter,” just because that’s how it looks and those are both acceptable shortened terms for the vehicle. But that’s completely false: the word is derived from “helico,” meaning “spiral,” (like “helix”) and “pter,” meaning “wing.” (like “pterodactyl”) The name literally means “spiral wing.”

interstate366, now In The Industry > Rainbow 12/15/2016 at 09:14

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RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Rainbow 12/15/2016 at 09:15

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Yay, JetRanger!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Rainbow 12/15/2016 at 09:16

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I’d assumed that it was a reduced version of “Hellene” and “co-pateras”, so meant it’s all whirly like a step-dad who’s into classical Greek.

The above sentence is a lie.

Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 12/15/2016 at 09:25

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I prefer Night Ranger.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer 12/15/2016 at 09:27

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I prefer Night Stalker.

ttyymmnn > Rainbow 12/15/2016 at 09:33

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The fact that a propeller is a spinning wing was one of the great breakthroughs that the Wright Brothers made. Most people thought that a screw sort of prop would work, the same way a screw prop works in water. But yeah, a propeller is just a spinning wing.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn 12/15/2016 at 09:41

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As efficient as Manley’s engine for the Langley project was, it wasn’t going to overcome a nearly useless airscrew. Meanwhile the Wrights made a prop through trial and error tests (armed with that knowledge) that was something off the charts efficient - north of 80%, I think.  Assumed theory is no substitute for tested theory, and the Wrights also were example A of Edison’s “perspiration” rule.

AuthiCooper1300 > Rainbow 12/15/2016 at 10:35

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Thank you sir/madam. About time someone set the record straight.

(Having studied two years of Classical Greek in high school, all those silly words and trademarks with “-copter” in them make me cringe.)

(It does not help either that one is also a bit of a snob.)