Looking like a mutated Bell 429, this demonstrator shows the radical new Bell Electrically Distributed Anti-torque (EDAT) system. The single large tail rotor has been replaced with four smaller electric rotors. According to Bell, the system is lighter, more efficient and reduces carbon emissions. Being electric, the rotors can be controlled more accurately than with a traditional system driven from the engines. There's redundancy should one of the rotors fail and being encased in small fenestrons means that the rotors have greater protection from tail strikes. Is this the future look for rotary aviation?
