Originally Posted by
charliegolf
Nutty
Spookily, I have witnessed that event happening at an airshow in Germany when I was the display crewman on the Puma. I think it was Breitscheid, about 50km east of Bonn. Our heroes entered and settled into the hover, only to flip at least 2 puddle jumpers on their backs. Now enter the anti-hero whose initials were George and Blackie (RIP), who politely enquired, "Don't they teach you cluckers that downwash goes downwind then?"
Spirited reply, "It's only a Cat C mishap- less than $100,000 to fix. It'll be fine. Beer anyone?"
CG
PS, the small airfield Germans were always wonderful hosts.
The trouble is while the downwash goes downwind and is persistent, it is not exactly visible, I remember a Chinook hover taxiing along the runway while Phoenix Gliding Club was operating. Cue some rapid jumps on to wing tips as the crosswind component evidenced itself.