Turning downwind = Loss of airspeed...INITIALLY
Hi people of the sky...
This thread relates to the old and closed one for the reason that I need to clarify this, because I do not agree at all with what people's conclusions were there...
What a nice day, flying North with a headwind of 50 knots and an IAS of 50 knots...
I might say at this time that this is a helicopter in this scenario.
So what is actually happening? Well, the pilot is hovering (relative to the ground) with a bambi bucket, dipping it in the lake to fill it up for the next drop, but the aircraft is actually flying 50knots forward to keep the same position over the ground.
My question: The pilot want to fly backwards (where the area of operation is). What is my needed GS to have 50knots on his IAS clock inside the cockpit?
When one turn slowly downwind (like in a holding pattern where a turn takes a minute) or turning base and then finals, the aircraft has TIME to 'catch up to and become part of the airmass and thereby propelling itself away from the airmass at its original speed, meaning that the ground speed will be the original airspeed plus the airmass' speed)
MY personal answer is: 100Knots.
According to me then: The pilot need to GAIN 50knots after turning...right?