For many years the Phoenix Police Department flew a fleet of MD-500N Notar helicopters. “NOTAR” refers to No Tail Rotor. Instead of a tail rotor the NOTAR used vectored exhaust gases from the jet engine to maintain stable flight. Early in my police career I had the opportunity to fly on the NOTARs fairly often. But, I really didn’t enjoy being in them because they were small and smelled heavily of jet fuel in the cabin. I never got totally airsick but every time I flew in the NOTAR I got close to throwing up. The fleet of new Euro Copters that the Department now flies are much nicer to be a passenger in…They have roomy airconditioned cabins.
NOTE: Riding in the NOTARS was not so fun. Sitting in the back seats meant that you were sitting behind the center of rotation for the rotor mast. So, you experienced much more gyrations as the helicopter orbited. It was standard practice for me to eat a big burrito to settle my stomach after NOTAR flights.