The kind of aerobatics that a helo can do is dependent alot on what kind of head is has. The limiting factor is the pilot, as you fvck up aerobatics in a helo and, well, you're a goner.
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Looking for gouge? Ask your Stupid Questions about Naval Aviation here (Part 1)
- Thread starter Nose
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The kind of aerobatics that a helo can do is dependent alot on what kind of head is has. The limiting factor is the pilot, as you fvck up aerobatics in a helo and, well, you're a goner.
Naval helos are limited by NATOPS from doing that, at least the ones I know of. The biggest problem is that in helos with teetering heads i.e. "semi-rigid", taking negative g's can make the rotors come off. It's physically possible in others, but you'll almost certainly overstress components.
Also, think about the lifties involved. Go upside-down in a helo, and you have a big fan pulling you down to the ground.
Also, think about the lifties involved. Go upside-down in a helo, and you have a big fan pulling you down to the ground.
Yeah, NATOPS limits aeorbatics in any helo. However, purely aerodynamically speaking, pretty much any helo is capable of aerobatics to some degree. Like you said, negative g's would cause an underslung head to depart, but flown with positive g the whole time then the helo could aerodynamically make it around a loop. That's not an issue on a fully articulated or rigid head. The only limiting factors really are pilot capability and the issue of overstressing components.
It's an interesting concept. In radio controlled model helos, you can get a helicopter to hover upside down, in addition to flying normally right side up. Granted, the power-to-weight ratios of those model helos is redonkulous, but it demonstrates that a rotary-wing aircraft can in fact do aerobatics.
It's an interesting concept. In radio controlled model helos, you can get a helicopter to hover upside down, in addition to flying normally right side up. Granted, the power-to-weight ratios of those model helos is redonkulous, but it demonstrates that a rotary-wing aircraft can in fact do aerobatics.
Yeah, but the models can pull negative pitch. I think that is the distinction, otherwise , they wouldn't generate the lift required going the other direction. In most helos even with the collective bottomed, the pitch and lift is still positive.
Yeah, hovering upside down is the extreme example, but with a conventionally rigged model helo (no negative pitch) you can still do aerobatics. It at least proves the aerodynamic principles of being able to the different maneuvers.
Back in the early 1980s, the NADEP at Pensacola used to loop CH-53s coming out of rework all the time. Saw it a lot when I was at VT-10 in 1983. In fact, everyone would look at the NADEP flight schedule to see when they were doing the test flights just to watch it as it was amazing to watch. I think they looped a few AH-1s there too but I'm not positive on that one.
Harrier Dude
Living the dream
Looping a helo on what I would presume was an FCF isn't the brightest idea I've ever heard of. Were you there to see the loop or to remove yourself from eligibility as a member of the mishap board?
We were ENS flight students, this possibility never entered our minds and probably wasn't on the Navy's mind either........or to remove yourself from eligibility as a member of the mishap board?
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
Brit Lynx's can loop and do it.. Between being on BALTOPS and seeing the Crazy Russians (and flying with them) and seeing what the Lynx can do first hand, the 60 paled in comparison.
I'm not so sure about that. We only admit to one U.S. -53 having been looped (by a USMC test pilot shortly after the first few came off the line). It never flew again and is now on a stick. SAC has a video of it looped in their lobby and will happily tell folks the whole story.
I saw it done at Pensacola half a dozen times at least while I was in VT-10 in 1983. The instructors would even give the class a break if they knew it about it ahead of time.
Dumb question
If you are landing on a carrier, are you using power for altitude and pitch for airspeed
Or do you just do whatever you need to do to stay on glideslope and speed and aoa
If you are landing on a carrier, are you using power for altitude and pitch for airspeed
Or do you just do whatever you need to do to stay on glideslope and speed and aoa
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
Could it be that the -E model can take it better? More power, blades, etc?
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