The OTHER Kevin in San Diego wrote:
On Thu, 18 May 2006 01:18:37 GMT, boB
wrote:


Of course you can apply collective and slow the decent rate if you have
enough power. The rotor wash does not increase equal to the amount of
power applied. You don't "increases the sink rate" unless there is no
power left.

Every text I've read and every high time (10,000+ hour) heli pilot
I've spoken to disagrees with that statement

My experience on the stick (limited as it is) clearly shows the sink
rate increases as you pull pitch when you're in the downwash.



Kevin, I'm not here to cause problems. In my experience, with only 6000
plus hours, but with most of those hours in the military flying in the
dead man's curve most of the time, I disagree. You don't have the
option to land into the wind or less than a near vertical decent, I have
actually added power to "power out" of the condition. If that was not
true myself, and many other IP's, would have helicopter wreckage all
around us.

Most approaches in the desert of Iraq had to be flown in the dead mans
curve because if you hesitated and leveled for just a second the sand
would blot out any visibility you had. I flew OH-58D helicopters in
Desert Storm and if you know about the aircraft you know most flights in
that helicopter were under NVG's at night. It was not a fun time.


So it's my experience that settling with power must be considered on any
approach that meets the requirements for settling with power the pilot
must be careful but not shy away from the approach if there are no other
alternatives, ie. bad guys in front of you. But my experience is based
on many many approaches, not hours and hours of flying from point A to
Point B

I hate to even write this as I don't want to start any wars. I am
envious of some of the guys in here who have a hell of a lot of
experience with different types of helicopter flying and I read the
messages because there is so much to learn. Learning never ceases.


I like reading the messages from the new guys because some of them
brings back some good memories.

I'm not listing my certificates below to impress anyone. My flying
career is over. I just list them to show I have at least some
experience. And if some think I'm lying, which is possible for anyone
to do, I can scan my license sitting on a piece of paper with something
written that someone here tells me to write. That can't be faked.

I thought I could contribute to the group by telling my experience.
Maybe I should have just kept quiet.

--

Bob


ATP Rotorcraft
Commercial w/instrument SEL

U.S. Army Aviation (retired)
Central Texas - 5NM West of Gray Army Airfield (KGRK)