PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Zero speed auto > Hover (without gaining airspeed)
Old 22nd Dec 2005, 00:25
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Matthew Parsons
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
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SWP...This could be entertaining.

Can you bring in power at the bottom of a zero airspeed autorotation to arrive at a hover?

Best answer: it depends. Depends on Nr droop, engine governing characteristics, rate of descent, and power available. (might have missed something)

Settling with power implies you don't have sufficient power to maintain level. If that is true then you will not be able to arrest your descent. If you have plenty of excess power and the Nr doesn't droop too much you might be able to get away with this.

Vortex ring state would be my biggest concern. You have zero forward airspeed, rate of descent, and then you bring in power, giving the three conditions that are required. Whether you get into VRS depends on characteristics of the helicopter, your rate of descent, and the power that you apply. This would be a very bad thing to encounter.

I do not recommend trying this.

Matthew.
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