"Stick and rudder" for helicopters?
 

Mellow greetings,

title says all actually: is there an equivalent of "Stick and rudder" for rotary wing aircraft, i.e. a book which a) explains in an accessible yet accurate way how and why these things stay in the air (or don't) and b) gives practical hints for flying?

(Reason for my asking: made a giant leap towards financial doom today by taking a trial lesson in a R22. Still puzzled how the link between steering inputs and aircraft movements became purely haphazard the moment controls were handed to the person in the right seat but immediately turned predictable, smooth and controlled as soon as the guy in the left seat sorted out the impending mess. Humiliation was never so much fun, though, so I might give it a second try as soon as the wallet permits.)

HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS by a real legend, Ray Prouty.


R-22 sigh!

Yes, it's called "Cyclic and Collective" and written by Shawn Coyle (a regular here.) A quick google will find it I'm sure...

Cyclic and Collective is about as close as it gets, there are loads of excellent books out there though. Some other recommendations:

Fatal Traps for Helicopter Pilots - Greg Whyte

The Helicopter Pilot's Handbook - Phil Croucher

The Art and Science of Flying Helicopters - Shawn Coyle

The FAA produce a 'Helicopter Flying Handbook'. And it's free! (84mb download).

http://www.faa.gov/regulations_polic...h-8083-21A.pdf

Sigh!.......

There is also the (free) "Helicopter Flight Training Manual" published by Transport Canada (5.6MB PDF):
http://www.tc.gc.ca/publications/EN/...HR/TP9982E.pdf

A helicopter just knows the capabilities of the person on the controls, and knows when it can have a bit of fun and when it can't.

Potentially self-destructive idea of fun, isn't it?
Wouldn't have looked any nicer if I had tried on my own.On the other hand, considering the bill I was sent today for the helicopter having a bit of fun with me ... crashing a helicopter probably can't be that more expensive than just flying one :eek:.

Thanks for all the hints, already found and downloaded the FAA manual, and "Cyclic and collective" appears indeed to be what I was looking for. Merci encore.

I have seen this a few times now ...but what happened to the would be pilot, one of the would be rescuers said he had just bought it, was the the Heli or the piece of land under him?

Peter R-B

I gather the twit had just bought the helo and been advised, despite his bragging that a f/w ace like him had no need of training on a mere helo, not to try flying it on his own on any account. Which he promptly proceeded to do with the inevitable result as depicted.

If true (and the film certainly seems to bear this out) he's a Darwin Award candidate of the first order.

Hogg's accident report
 

According to the recommendation, I orderd "Fatal Traps". Currently, it's my bedtime book. Impressive collection of reports, analysis and hints for avoidance/resolution. Definitely worth a look. Thracian

Haha, I always wondered about the story behind that video.

M.

Mellow greetings,

just wanted to thank you again for the recommendations; after having read the FAA handbook I got myself a copy of Cyclic & Collective and it's indeed what I was looking for (my beginning the second part for professionals now might be a bit over-the-top, but I paid for the whole book, and it's just too interesting a read).

(Of course could not resist to have another go either, and this time there were actually some limited periods where the helicopter pretended to do what I want (which was mostly staying still some feet above the ground). What was less encouraging was the fact that when I wanted to put it down for a break, the instructor had to take over again. Quite nice and steady descent (in perfectly calm conditions, of course), but just the last few inches above the ground seemed to be infested by the curse of the wobbly copter despite (or because of?) all my efforts to make a soft touchdown without any horizontal motion. But then, according to the instructor, I am not the first newbie befallen by that curse.)

Absolutely fascinating flying machines, in any case!

Under the Christmas tree, I found

Coyle, Shawn; Little Book of Autorotations
Padfield, R. Randall; Learning to Fly Helicopters
Prouty, Ray; Helicopter Aerodynamics I and II

Lots of pages for the Bad weather time...

Thracian

Yaaay! I have been good this year......got S. Coyle's - The Art and Science of Flying Helicopters and Cyclic and Collective! Looks like quite a weighty tome indeed....will have to read s l o w l y.

Also (off topic) a t-shirt with pic of a heli and 'Keep Calm and Fly On' :)

The Ray Prouty books are my favorites, they never get old. It will take more than one read for things to sink in.

A Good Read
 

A request for a little guidance if possible.

I am looking to find a good study guide to help better understand the "magic" behind helicopter flight. My ultimate goal is to become a TP, provided that option remains open to us in the military. However, in the mean time it would be a great asset to aid with traps and general understanding etc.

I have access to AP3456 but would like a more in depth guide to study from. I have looked on the internet, in other forums and asked fellow colleagues but wondered if anyone here has any good recommendations. I know there are several users of Pprune that have written their own guides at various times!

Many thanks in advance

Ghosted

Here are two of the modern classics on flying helicopters:






Both are excellent. Coyle is more "applied," Wagtendonk is more technical.