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Old 15th Dec 2008, 17:23
  #18 (permalink)  
Lt.Fubar
 
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Does anyone know of any other types that may be able to do this, including military types?
Old question. But better late than never.

Nick Lappos could provide some answers about details, 9 years ago at rec.aviation.rotorcraft newsgroup, he wrote some good stuff on that subject (helicopter A-A combat, and aerobatics - especially loops). Apparently what you need is strong, rigid machine, with lots of spare power and good speed. Although Nick wrote that even the S-51 was capable of performing a loop - low-G maneuvers would probably be a problem though.

First helicopter to perform full aerobatic display was CH-53, therefore many helicopters since the 60's can perform full aerobatics, although its not that simple as on the planks. For example a loop in a plank is fairly easy, all you need is enough speed to be above stall in the highest point. With helicopter, you need to hit a sweet spot: to little - and you wont make it to the top, to much - and you overspeed and stall main rotor on the recovery.

Helicopters that will do those maneuvers for fact are Bo-105, Bell 407, MD500, Lynx, Apache, NH-90 - those shown that capability already, look on youtube, and you may find videos. As far as others - probably most western machines can, and its mostly a question of pilot skill - seen S-58T do some nice maneuvers, AS365 also can achieve some insane roll and pitch rates... But probably non of the Russian helicopters can do that kind of flying, except the Mil Mi-28, they are just to fragile and one may say that they fall off the sky above bank angle of 45deg. Numerous Mi-8, Mi-24, and Mi-2 were lost because some pilots got to cocky.

As for the European pilots goes - Rainer Wilke is pretty much one of the best known helicopter stunt pilots, ex-military, Eurocopter test pilot instructor, was doing the aerial work for German "Clown" TV series, he (and Sigi Schwarz) fly the Red Bull '105 in Europe, and he was the one who shown Chuck Aaron, what Bo-105 is capable of.
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