Automated rotating tail rotor control

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
• cause a rotating tail rotor to operate in a tail rotor mode when an aircraft is operating at a speed less than a threshold;
• receive a command that indicates a request to transition the aircraft;
• determine that a rudder of the aircraft has control power in an amount greater than a second threshold based on receiving the command;
• and
• cause the rotating tail rotor to operate in a pusher propeller mode based on determining that the rudder has control power in the amount greater than the second threshold.

A system comprising:

• at least one sensor configured to measure aircraft speed;
• and
• a control computer configured to:
• cause a rotating tail rotor to operate in a tail rotor mode when an aircraft is operating at a speed less than a threshold as detected by the at least one sensor;
• receive a command that indicates a request to transition the aircraft;
• determine that a rudder of the aircraft has control power in an amount greater than a second threshold based on receiving the command;
• cause the rotating tail rotor to operate in a pusher propeller mode based on determining that the rudder has control power in the amount greater than the second threshold;
• determine that the rudder has control power in an amount less than a third threshold when the rotating tail rotor is operating in the pusher propeller mode;
• and
• cause the rotating tail rotor to operate in the tail rotor mode based on determining that the rudder has control power in the amount less than the third threshold.