Coalition wrote:The fancy part would be two counter-rotating blades in the nose, and launch/land it vertically. This means that if the engine does not have enough power, it will tend to fall butt-first, and cushion the important stuff (RC circuits, battery, engine, etc). The counter-rotating prevents most of the torque from one blade, while avoiding thrust losses from having to power a tail rotor. Make the rotor blades cheap and fragile, so if they get damaged, you don't lose anything important. By maknig them fragile, they will get damaged first, saving the important stuff (the engine, drive shaft).
If you want the lift/acceleration of two blades, and make it fairly simple, you might as well build it as a gyrocopter with a fancy shell. You will need extra thrust to deal with the body of the White Star getting in the way, so be ready to put in a good lift engine.
Actually you gave me an idea.
EDIT: I should give credit where credit is due, you made me think of these guys when you mentioned the counter-rotating blade setup:
http://www.verticopter.com/
I figured maybe I could just put it in the center of the air foil structure, would have great protection and potentially make it so it could be a hover- and forward flight aircraft.
I would have those counter-rotating blades, except on a swivel, and located within the fuselage section, so that it could spin one way for VTOL and the other for forward flight.
The only thing that worries me is the airflow out the back...and how it would be affected by the White Star's confusing jumble of airfoils.
Should be interesting, I wonder if X Plane could accurately model it.
@Kendall: I would love to see that!
I think, given some gyro stabilization, the saucer module would fly fine. Especially more aerodynamic saucers like the Sovereign class and the Prometheus. Its the rest of the ship that's the problem.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)