Flight Manual Limits
On a non-personal note, many people seem to be confusing flight manual limits and aircraft capabilities. Many very capable and proven combat aircraft have the same sort of limits in their manuals that the V-22 does.
Here are some limits I have pulled from various manuals, many of which were available online here. Most are out of date, so wording may have changed.
I have always looked to the CH-53E as a very capable workhorse- If its limits have not changed I wonder how it manages to succeed in Afghanistan with a g limit of 1.5 and an angle of bank limit of 45 degrees (since the whole country is above 3000 ft DA). I have not heard that it is unable to perform its missions over there.
How can the CH-46 or the SH-60 succeed with 45° angle of bank limits?
Somehow they do- and just maybe we should wait and see if the V-22 can succeed as well.
Here are some limits that resemble the oft quoted limits that "prevent" the V-22 from safe and efficient combat operations:
CH-46 (Rev 21- 1998)
1. No acrobatic maneuvers are approved.
2. Coordinated turns.-
a. For all gross weights and density altitudes, 45°
or the CGI limit. whichever is lower
SH-60B (Rev 50, 2000)
4.5.3 Bank Angles Limitation. Bank angles
shall be limited to a maximum of 45° in normal operations
4.5.6 Prohibited Maneuvers. The following
maneuvers are prohibited:
1. Aerobatic ight (e.g., rolls, loops, inverted ight)
2. Abrupt movement of the ight controls
3. Bank angles greater than 45°
CH-53E (Rev 21, 1990)
4.4.2 Angle of Bank Limitations
GW<56,000 lbs and DA <3000 or <130 KIAS- 60 degrees
GW<56,000 lbs and DA>3000 or >130 KIAS- 45 degrees
GW > 56,000 lbs – 30 degrees
4.4.3 Acceleration Limitations
GW<56,000 lbs and DA <3000 – 2.0 g
GW>56,000 lbs OR DA >3000 – 1.5 g
4.4.4 Maneuvering Limitations
Warning
Rapid forward cyclic and reduced collective setting may cause blade/fuselage contact.
Aerobatics such as loops, rolls, etc. are prohibited. Evasive maneuvering training and air combat maneuvering training are prohibited.
UH-1Y (May 2008)
4.11.3 Prohibited Maneuvers
The following maneuvers are prohibited:
1. Aerobatic maneuvers as defined by OPNAVINST 3710.7 series.
7. Abrupt, simultaneous collective and cyclic inputs while maneuvering are prohibited.
15.9 Vortex Ring State
Increasing collective has no effect toward recovery and will aggravate
power settling. During approaches at less than 40 knots, avoid descent rates
exceeding 800 fpm.
(Same limits in AH-1Z manual of same date)
OH-58 A (Chg 9, 1997)
5-22- Aerobatic maneuvers are prohibited.
5-23 Abrupt control movements are prohibited. This in no way prohibits normal control application.
TH-57C (April 1989)
4.18 Prohibited Maneuvers
1. No aerobatic maneuvers are permitted.
2. Angles of bank exceeding 60 degrees are prohibited.
11.6 Power Settling (Vortex Ring State)
Helicopter rotor theory indicates that it is most likely to occur when descent rates exceed 800 feet per minute during (1) vertical descents from a hover and (2) steep approaches at less than 40 KIAS.
Warning:
During approaches less than 40 KIAS, do not exceed 800 feet per minute descent rate.
US Army AH-1S (1991)
5-14 Prohibited Maneuvers
b. No aerobatic maneuvers permitted or intentional maneuvers beyond attitudes of +/- 30 degrees in pitch or +/- 60 degrees in roll are prohibited.