Will the real VRS please stand up!
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: the other America
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Will the real VRS please stand up!
Well we all talk about Vortex Ring State (VRS) and the biggest thing is avoid the Rod/low speed/power combination that sets VRS up.. .. .On some training flights to actually demo VRS can be very hard (lots of height for a start, calm day or slight tailwind, set up Rod/low speed descent..........nothing - get the height back try again.. .. .I know one of the major Murphy's of VRS is it's unpredictable nature/effects.. .. .One pilot I know with 14k hrs "thinks" he may have had VRS on 2 occasions.. .. .Had a "story" related to me the other day about a 9k hr pilot instructor went out with another high time instructor in a B204 to "look for" VRS. Lucky they were using 5000 AGL. They messed about.....nothing...........nothing........nothing....and then bam! used up the better part of 3000' to get out of (now this could be a BS story but it sounds good, next time I may have to substitute myself as one of the pilots <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> ).. .. .Anyway, who out there has had a brush with VRS? please share the hows/whys as I still have plenty to learn.. .. .Cheers & flysafe. .Hone
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: California
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On a Hiller 12(with soloy) the blades are controlled by two paddles set near the inboard portion of the disc. The cyclic moves, the paddles move and then the blades move.. .. .The paddles are very small.. .. .Practicing longline with one in Idaho (6000') I got into it a few times. In one case I had put a twenty foot tag line, the log itself and about 125 feet of the longline on the ground before I was able to get out of it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> . .. .The one important thing for me was recognizing the onset. With your head completely outside doing vertical ref work the easiest way to see it coming was to make gentle circular movements with the cyclic.. .. .If the fuselage was responding appropriately all was good.. .. .When you made the circles and nothing was happening or the movement was really slow you were about to get into it.. .. .Eventually flying that aircraft you just flew around always referencing your cyclic input to desired effect. When it wasn't right alarm bells went off.. .. .Next time your up practicing check the "feel" of the controls as you get close to and then in the problem. Set your alarm clock for that "feel".. .. .I'm sure you'll get better tips here but that worked for me.
