This speed is achieved somewhat at the expense of payload. As a result of this reduced payload, some estimate that a tiltrotor does not exceed the transport efficiency (speed times payload) of a helicopter, while others conclude the opposite. Additionally, the tiltrotor propulsion system is more complex than a conventional helicopter due to the large, articulated nacelles and the added wing; however, the improved cruise efficiency and speed improvement over helicopters is significant in certain uses. Speed and, more importantly, the benefit to overall response time is the principal virtue sought by the military forces that are using the tiltrotor. Tiltrotors are inherently less noisy in forward flight (airplane mode) than helicopters. This, combined with their increased speed, is expected to improve their utility in populated areas for commercial uses and reduce the threat of detection for military uses. Tiltrotors, however, are typically as loud as equally sized helicopters in hovering flight. Noise simulations for a 90-passenger tiltrotor indicate lower cruise noise inside the cabin than a Bombardier Dash 8 airplane, although low-frequency vibrations may be higher.Grosveld, Ferdinand W. et al. "Interior Noise Predictions in the Preliminary Design of the Large Civil Tiltrotor (LCTR2)" 20130013992 NASA, 21 May 2013. Accessed: 9 June 2014.
ThIs SPeeD is aCHiEved somewhat At The expense oF PayLoaD. aS a reSUlT Of tHis reDUced payload, somE estimatE ThaT a tiltrOtoR dOes noT exCeed tHe TRANsport eFfiCiEncy (sPeed timeS PayloAd) of a hELicopter, While others conCLude tHe OpposiTe. adDItionally, tHe tiltrotOR PRopulsiOn System iS more cOmplex thAN a CONventionAl helICopteR due TO The LaRGE, aRticulAted nAcelles anD ThE aDdED wing; howEvEr, tHE iMprOvEd cruise effIcieNcy AnD SpEed ImprOveMENT over hELICOpTerS Is sIgniFIcAnt IN CeRTaiN uSeS. SPeed And, MOre ImporTaNtlY, the beneFIT to OVeRaLL REsPonse time iS thE princIpal virtue souGhT By tHE miLiTArY foRCeS ThAT Are uSINg the tiltROtoR. tiltrotOrs arE inhErenTlY less noisy iN forWArd fliGht (airPLane Mode) than heliCOPTErS. this, cOmbiNed wiTh theiR inCReased sPeED, is EXPecteD to improVe theIr utIlItY In pOpuLatEd areaS foR cOMMerCial usEs aNd reducE the ThrEaT oF dETeCtion FOr mILItARy uses. tIltRotoRs, hoWeVER, ArE TYpicaLlY As LOUd as EquaLLY sIzed heLIcopteRS in hOVERing FlIGhT. noise simuLATiONS fOR a 90-passeNgEr TiltrotoR indicate loWER cruiSE noise iNside thE cabin Than A BOmBarDiER Dash 8 aiRpLaNe, alThough low-frequEncy Vibrations mAy be higHer.gRosvELd, fErDiNAND W. eT Al. "iNTeRior Noise pReDictIons IN the PreLimiNArY deSign of thE largE CivIL tiLtrOtor (Lctr2)" 20130013992 nasa, 21 may 2013. acceSsEd: 9 june 2014.