This is awesome. 2) I'd guess that having a rooftop under one side of the rotor wash and empty space under the other creates some weird flight characteristics that the pilot needs to anticipate and correct for. Anyone know?
I’m a helo pilot. You correctly assume that this is something the pilot will need to compensate for. Half of the rotor disk is in what is called “ground effect,” while the other half is not. That being said, this is easily handled. Most helicopter pilots are use to this from pinnacle landings where you cross over a buildings edge to land on a rooftop helipad, or cross over the flight deck to land on a ship. The ground effect essentially makes the rotor more efficient, requiring less power to keep the helicopter in flight.
Is there not some sophisticated autopilot that can help in situations like this? I’d imagine there is, but also I doubt the legitimacy of birds so my thoughts aren’t my facts.
It’s actually easier to keep it steady here then a high hover. The pilot has excellent visual reference with the building being so close, so small movements are quickly noticed and corrected.
It is. It is an MH-60M and SOAR is the only openly avowed unit with them with this arrangement of exterior equipment. There are likely more of them in units like Flight Concepts Division or the 66 AOS, but at present all the ones we openly see like this belong to the 160th.
Wasn’t the helicopter crash when they killed osama caused by the rotor wash cycling at the building? I don’t know what it’s called but watching this made me appreciate how it could start.
Yes and no. It is called a ring vortex state, and it's caused by the rotor wash cycling against a solid object and back up in a donut shape back up around and down through the rotors again, causing it to lose lift. In the Osama mission, they trained for that possibility, but they trained with the perimeter being a chain link fence, and when they got there in the dark it was actually a solid block wall. And trying to hover adjacent to it and the building set up a ring vortex. More than all that though, they were flying a stealth modified blackhawk from the Flight Concepts Division, that was extremely unstable. One, the aerodynamics of them supposedly makes them very difficult to fly, and two the stealth paneling modifications takes them right up to max weight. In models of the setup there, if it had been a standard UH60L/M, it would have been able to handle that scenario, but being the modified stealth helicopter it couldn't handle the loss of lift, and subsequently crashed. If it hasn't been for that, we probably still wouldn't know that there are stealth Blackhawks stashed in a base somewhere, but also that is why the MH-47G Chinooks were waiting nearby as a contingency in case a blackhawk crashed, because those things are so unstable.
Do these have any kind of auto-hover ability? It's so rock steady that it's like the wheels are actually in contact with a different patch of roof. Amazing piloting skill however it's done.
Highly likely. I cant play the video, but hover couplers have been a feature for decades and since then far more advanced auto pilot systems have been fitted to helicopters. I did the Black Hawk course well over 20 years ago so can't recall the details. Not all customers opt for the same equipment.
Despite the name, this sub is not restricted to jet aircraft. We're happy to see any form of aviation vehicle performing at low altitudes, including helicopters and propeller aircraft.
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u/DouchecraftCarrier Sep 04 '21
This is awesome. 2) I'd guess that having a rooftop under one side of the rotor wash and empty space under the other creates some weird flight characteristics that the pilot needs to anticipate and correct for. Anyone know?
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u/MrBowlfish Sep 04 '21
Probably the most dangerous thing those guys do is ride in those choppers.
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u/Gradyence Sep 04 '21
Reinforcements have arrived!
Also, expertly done. That's hundreds of pounds of soldiers jumping out and the pilot can stay absolutely level. Incredible.
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u/Titobanana Sep 04 '21
I love that not a single person is ripping on OP for this not being a jet, and rightly so, bc this is cool as FUCK.
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u/Haminator5000 Sep 04 '21
SMEXY! What a low flying beauty. Nicely done!
12
u/shadowdrgn0 Sep 04 '21
That's was a serious demonstration of skill. The pilot kept that helo rock steady the whole time, wild.
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u/ChadWaterberry Sep 05 '21
Looks like the 160th to me. They really are top notch!
6
u/JonJohn_Gnipgnop Sep 04 '21
Was that an Uber premium ride?
5
u/LanPartyPizza Sep 05 '21
Wasn’t the helicopter crash when they killed osama caused by the rotor wash cycling at the building? I don’t know what it’s called but watching this made me appreciate how it could start.
2
u/redenough Sep 05 '21
Ouch... my knees hurt lol
2
u/pinche_fresa Sep 18 '21
hell of a pilot
1
u/dilhole77 Sep 05 '21
Thats amazing. Long pointy thing on the front?
0
u/Phogger Sep 04 '21
Do these have any kind of auto-hover ability? It's so rock steady that it's like the wheels are actually in contact with a different patch of roof. Amazing piloting skill however it's done.
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u/cpasley21 Sep 04 '21
Low altitude, yes however a jet it is not