🚀 go-pugleaf

"DonH" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com> wrote:
>Is the helicopter essentially an unstable aircraft?
>  By that, I mean, is it usually fatal if something goes wrong?

Also they contain a lot of magnesium, which burns so well.
Perhaps they should use carbon-fibre bodies instead, then the
coroners would have a better chance of figuring out what went bad.
            

On Sat, 20 Aug 2011 06:56:41 +1000, DonH wrote:

> Is the helicopter essentially an unstable aircraft?
>   By that, I mean, is it usually fatal if something goes wrong? Unlike
>   fixed-wing aircraft, it can't glide down if the rotors stop. If at
>   high enough altitude, the pilot could bail out, and parachute down. Is
>   there a remedy?  Retractable wings? The virtue of a helicopter is - it
>   can hover. Its vice is - falling like a stone.

AIUI, there is an intake at the base of the copter which channels air up 
to the rotors giving the pilot /minimum/ control over uncontrolled 
descent. You're still plummeting, but you might be able to choose between 
a big rock, and a small one to land on.

I'm no expert. The above was told to me by a guy who's been in two (!) 
separate helicopter crashes. Might be only certain makes/models.

HTH.
 



-- 
Cheers,
	Dave

"I will kill for the good of the
fight for the right to be right."

David Bowie, Cygnet Committee

"David Melville" <davidmelville@exemail.com.au> wrote in message 
news:j2pn36$bc9$2@dont-email.me...
> On Sat, 20 Aug 2011 06:56:41 +1000, DonH wrote:
>
>> Is the helicopter essentially an unstable aircraft?
>>   By that, I mean, is it usually fatal if something goes wrong? Unlike
>>   fixed-wing aircraft, it can't glide down if the rotors stop. If at
>>   high enough altitude, the pilot could bail out, and parachute down. Is
>>   there a remedy?  Retractable wings? The virtue of a helicopter is - it
>>   can hover. Its vice is - falling like a stone.
>
> AIUI, there is an intake at the base of the copter which channels air up
> to the rotors giving the pilot /minimum/ control over uncontrolled
> descent. You're still plummeting, but you might be able to choose between
> a big rock, and a small one to land on.
>
> I'm no expert. The above was told to me by a guy who's been in two (!)
> separate helicopter crashes. Might be only certain makes/models.
>
> HTH.
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Cheers,
> Dave
>
> "I will kill for the good of the
> fight for the right to be right."
>
> David Bowie, Cygnet Committee

#  Thanks for the info. So, it is possible to survive a helicopter crash, 
without being sliced by the main rotor, or smashed into the ground.
    My ideal helicopter would have two rotors, used solely for lift, and 
with the torque rotor replaced by a conventional forward-motion propeller - 
which would then require a rudder.  Should one rotor stop completely, then 
wings would sprout from that end of the craft, to assist an emergency 
landing.
    Are V/STOL airplanes, such as the British Harrier (jump jet), still in 
service? 

On Sun, 21 Aug 2011 15:59:02 +1000, DonH wrote:

> "David Melville" <davidmelville@exemail.com.au> wrote in message
> news:j2pn36$bc9$2@dont-email.me...
>> On Sat, 20 Aug 2011 06:56:41 +1000, DonH wrote:
>>
>>> Is the helicopter essentially an unstable aircraft?
>>>   By that, I mean, is it usually fatal if something goes wrong? Unlike
>>>   fixed-wing aircraft, it can't glide down if the rotors stop. If at
>>>   high enough altitude, the pilot could bail out, and parachute down.
>>>   Is there a remedy?  Retractable wings? The virtue of a helicopter is
>>>   - it can hover. Its vice is - falling like a stone.
>>
>> AIUI, there is an intake at the base of the copter which channels air
>> up to the rotors giving the pilot /minimum/ control over uncontrolled
>> descent. You're still plummeting, but you might be able to choose
>> between a big rock, and a small one to land on.
>>
>> I'm no expert. The above was told to me by a guy who's been in two (!)
>> separate helicopter crashes. Might be only certain makes/models.
>>
>> HTH.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Cheers,
>> Dave
>>
>> "I will kill for the good of the
>> fight for the right to be right."
>>
>> David Bowie, Cygnet Committee
> 
> #  Thanks for the info. So, it is possible to survive a helicopter
> crash, without being sliced by the main rotor, or smashed into the
> ground.

Sure is! Not that my mate was hurrying back for more. Sounded scary as 
hell.


>     My ideal helicopter would have two rotors, used solely for lift, and
> with the torque rotor replaced by a conventional forward-motion
> propeller - which would then require a rudder.  Should one rotor stop
> completely, then wings would sprout from that end of the craft, to
> assist an emergency landing.
>     Are V/STOL airplanes, such as the British Harrier (jump jet), still
>     in
> service?

I know only that the Harrier was retired recently from the UK defense 
force.

Don't know of any others.



-- 
Cheers,
	Dave

"I will kill for the good of the
fight for the right to be right."

David Bowie, Cygnet Committee

"DonH" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com> wrote in message 
news:16A3q.844$7r4.466@viwinnwfe02.internal.bigpond.com...
> Is the helicopter essentially an unstable aircraft?
>  By that, I mean, is it usually fatal if something goes wrong?
>  Unlike fixed-wing aircraft, it can't glide down if the rotors stop.
>  If at high enough altitude, the pilot could bail out, and parachute down.
>  Is there a remedy?  Retractable wings?
>  The virtue of a helicopter is - it can hover.
>  Its vice is - falling like a stone.
>

# It seems the ABC helicopter which crashed was 23 years old - metal 
fatigue?
   How many of us drive a car that old?  Yes, vintage cars do exist, but 
need scrupulous maintenance, and are mostly only driven on special 
occasions.
   Maybe a cash-strapped ABC can't afford to trade its choppers in each year 
on the latest model. (Incidentally, never buy the latest model, lest the 
bugs haven't been ironed out. Same with pharmaceuticals.)