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View Full Version : Turning downwind = Loss of airspeed...INITIALLY


Heli1223
29th Oct 2011, 14:13
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?

sablatnic
29th Oct 2011, 16:33
Not if you close your eyes before turning.

ft
30th Oct 2011, 11:52
What is the change in (directional) ground speed going one way and going the other way, with constant airspeed?

In still air?

In a headwind?

It's the change which matters, and it's the same in both cases.

50 knots IAS and a 50 knot headwind = 0 knot GS.

Turn 180 degrees, maintaining 50 KIAS - you're doing 100 knots GS. Change of 100 knots.

50 KIAS in still air and you're doing 50 knots GS.

Turn 180 degrees, maintaining 50 KIAS - you're still doing 50 knots GS, but going the other way. Absolute change of 100 knots.