First helicopter loop recorded video
 

Neat

JD

awe inspiring
 

I have, falsely, lived under the impression that doing this type of flying was accomplished in more modern times with more sophisticated equipment. Cheers to a great aviator!

Very interesting. I am surprised that he didn't start with a little more altitude in case it went wrong?

Insider,
With the blade loading of that machine, even a thousand feet would have cost some load factor, which is desperately needed early in the maneuver to get that nose past the vertical. Note that once the initial speed is lost, he exits much higher than he entered, because the loop is actually a tightening spiral as the speed slows down.

I have a video of Tommy talking about this maneuver, if I can dig it up, I will post it.

And the music in the above video is the same as they used for the Robinson Helicopter Safity Course tape / dvd. YouTube - Robinson Helicopter Safety Course

......and clear of any hazards on the ground, such as gasholders, etc. Not sure if there wasn't even a hospital and an orphanage there, too!

I am expecting normal collective , back cyclic at the start of the loop. What next ? Would he lower collective for a moment when upside down , and then increase again as he comes out of the loop ? Cyclic is pretty obvious , collective less so (to me) . Anyone know ?

Thanks. Arnie
<right side up and loving it>

Nice video but I did not see one loop.

My eyes are getting old but it appears to me that he pedal turns out of the manouvre at the top - no loop.
GAGS
E86

Looks close enough to a loop for me. A heading change was required to miss the gasometers I would expect. No significant disqualifying moves there.


But feel free knock away. Balls like rock.

looks like a wingover to me :confused:

It is a loop, not a perfect one because he comes out on a slightly different heading, but a loop all the same.

At high disc-loadings there may be some pitch/roll coupling that requires compensation from the pilot (certainly the case on the Lynx) and the pilot must crane his head back to look for the horizon at the top to try and keep the wings level - just like a FW loop.

Big balls - definitely!

Well that clears that up then.

LOOP
 

Collective usually fully down at the top of the manoeuvre. Progressive increase once past the 90 degree vertically down attitude.

Dennis K

I suppose the good thing about the low altitude is that if the unthinkable happened, he wouldn't have to fret about it very long.:eek:

I exchanged a few emails with "Tommy" back in 1998 and if I remember correctly he said that he tried the loops with different entry airspeeds. That may be why one of the ones in the video ends up with a high recovery but the other one and the one in the still photos seems to have a pretty low recovery altitude. I don't remember any more detail than that. He also said the CAA yanked his license for it but he got it back fairly quick though.

Sikorsky Pilots have done more than a few loops!