Why Helicopters Are Cool #1: Some Basic Manoeuvres

Trying to show some of the helicopters more unique capabilities, from clips taken during our CPL(H) training. Hope you enjoy it.

As always, any comments (positive or negative) are very welcome. Recommend watching in Hi-Def if possible, on full-screen.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Autorotation
• Downwind
• Quickstop
• Bristow
• Academy
• JAA
• integrated
• helicopter
• flight
• training
• KTIX
• ATPL(H)
• CPL(H)
• Schweizer
• S300CBI
• Florida

[mjm9536]

that first SEF in the OGE hover is a helluva good way to get yourself into settling with power if you dont pick up some airspeed right away

[DuaneTheCat]

@mjm9536 hmmm actually no it isn't ... as you can't enter vortex-ring / settling with power in autorotation because you have to have power on (the clue's in the name: settling WITH POWER).

Zero speed autos are actually a standard exercise in the JAA CPL(H) syllabus, though not maintaining 0kts beyond 500ft as you're right that you must get speed on before pulling power at the recovery since without the flare to get more inertia into the head you'd have a problem on your hands stopping

[mjm9536]

@DuaneTheCat i'm well aware they are totally different and in teaching practice unrelated but in theory what i said would apply if you are falling straight down through your own down wash.... with like a 1% chance of it happening because the idle speed will be so low haha i am an engineer so i like to tie things together with theory like that even if it will never happen in practice

[DuaneTheCat]

@mjm: They are fundmentally different because to get into SWP/VRS the rotor needs to be creating a downwash (ie there's a DOWNWARD flow of air through the disk) but in auto-rotation the flow of air through the disk is UPWARD and there is hence none of the confliction required to induce the vortex ring state. Yes, for a safe recovery you want some forward speed as the airflow reverses (ie goes from upward to downward to arrest the descent), but in autorotation itself you are not at risk of VRS

[mjm9536]

@DuaneTheCat all true statements as taught to pilots. but ask an engineer, get into the nitty gritty details and numbers and it is not truely 100% upflow. otherwise the rotor (which is being spun by the upflow) would not be doing any work and may as well not be present. lift being a downward force... think about it. all this is is a difference in persepective - pilots are taught the practical conceptual side of aerod. and how it works that will aid them in flying.

[DuaneTheCat]

@mjm9536 Haha I have thought about it (and I also have Eng degree & background, like you) and I think we're going to be best off here agreeing to disagree :). Readers can make up their own minds. To my simple pilot's mind - it is true 100% upflow, you are simply 'extracting' some resisitance from that airflow (which sure will slow it down) to drive the rotor. A sycamore seed doesn't induce a downward flow to keep itself in equilibrium (ie constant RoD) either, same principle

[jogjelsv]

planes are better

[mjm9536]

@DuaneTheCat think about it like this... conditions for settling with power: you have insufficient power to arrest the rate of descent so you effectively have no power anyway. you could pull 100 and infinity % torque to no avail. the difference being in an auto you will be losing rotor rpm as you splat and in settling you just splat lol. unless of course you are lucky enough to have the altitude to make your way out of it :)

[travers114]

@shfullclip9mm Bingo.

[shfullclip9mm]

@travers114 trim string