Is this "our" Massad Ayoob..?

[cvoharley]

Glad to see everyone standing around. That looks like a tough situation to get out of.

 

[Fishslayer]

Mr. Ayoob rides in a black helicopter???

 

[Westfair]

I've read so much of your work over the years Mr. Ayoob and I'm grateful you and your friends survived.

 

[ares338]

Glad you are ok....you need to go buy a lottery ticket!

 

[2nd 41]

Today is first day of the rest of your life. Glad you're ok.

 

[Cosmoline]

It was going to be far worse, but Mas stared at the ground and it backed down.

 

[blarby]

It was going to be far worse, but Mas stared at the ground and it backed down.
__________________

Undoubtedly.

Grass and trees are gonna have to do much better than that !

Glad you are safe, Mas- godspeed and safe returns.

 

[sharkman]

When a helicopter is auto-rotating, it isn't flying. It isn't generating lift. It is falling out of the sky with the pitch of the blades reversed so they will keep spinning hoping to build enough momentum. At the last moment, the blade pitch is changed, praying to make enough lift to soften the impact enough to keep everyone alive. There is a reason why all auto-rotations must be logged in the aircraft's records

No actually, when a helicopter autorotates it is flying and is producing lift, just not as much as in powered flight. If that were not true then it would be uncontrollable. The pitch of the blades is reduced but not reversed. Too little pitch and the rotor will overspend resulting in increased rate of descent. Too much pitch will result in reduced rotor rpm's resulting causing increased rate of descent, and possible loss of control. Done properly you can continue to fly and maneuver a helicopter in an autorotation.

An autorotation has been called a procedure to keep your hands and feet busy while you fall screaming to your death. Obviously not true in this case...Glad all are safe

 

[WardenWolf]

Actually, autororation turns the rotor into an air brake. Its primary purpose is to provide air resistance to decrease the rate of descent.

Glad everyone is okay. That was a nasty crash.

 

[Slamfire]

Hogs 1, Helicopters 0.

I guess a combination of low altitude and trees cushioned the fall. Darn helicopters are dangerous, in 2010 a five year old girl, sitting on her Dad’s lap, kicked the stick, that caused the helicopter to pitch down. the pilot pulled back on the stick to recover from the dive, and the main blade cut through the tail. They were obviously too high because no one survived. http://www.examiner.com/article/nts...used-helicopter-crash-that-killed-billionaire

If man was meant to fly God would have given him wings…..

 

[c.latrans]

Been there, done that under somewhat different circumstances! 27 years later, I can tell you that you will NEVER forget those few seconds, you will look at every helicopter you ever hear, and you will look at every day a little differently. Happy to see everyone up and moving!

 

[sharkman]

No it does not turn the rotor into an air brake, it's function remains unchanged. Rate of decent will increase until the pilot flares for landing, and increases collective which increases blade pitch which increases lift to cushion the landing. Due to unpowered state it also causes the rotor to slow when collective is increased in the flare so you need to time it right

 

[SSN Vet]

Hope you all get well soon Mas... as taking your class is on my bucket list

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Fess up, who shot the helicopter? And what caliber?

Glad you came through it Mr. Ayoob.

 

[sidheshooter]

As an LFI grad, I could have really done without this whole thread, but that pic is awesome.