Helicopter has no inherent disadvantages in terms of lift from a fixed wing. However, it's more susceptible to pilot error in critical phases of flight, in case of a power loss. For example, during takeoff, if the collective isn't lowered in case of a power loss in less than 2 seconds, an unrecoverable blade stall is likely to occur. This regime is only there for about 20 seconds on takeoff, though, and the likelihood of this occurring is very low. You can indeed auto-rotate in every normal flight regime, including tail rotor failure. This is why when taking off in a single-engine helicopter, you first accelerate along the surface and then gain altitude, so, in case of an engine failure, you can trade that airspeed for vertical lift. In case of a tail rotor failure, you would auto rotate, since if there is no torque there is no adverse yaw of the helicopter.
On Jan 13, 11:21 am, Casper Bang <casper.b...@gmail.com> wrote: > However helicopters do have disadvantages over fixed wings models, in > that it's harder to redirect horizontal force vertically so if you > fall, you likely fall like a rock and crush your pelvis upon impact. > Even when commanding auto rotation, that only works between certain > height right? Can you still auto rotate if the tail rotor malfunctions > and you have to fight the torque of the main prop? > > /Casper > > On Jan 13, 5:12 pm, Lenny P <lpri...@hope.nyc.ny.us> wrote: > > > If you look at the statistics > > breakdown:http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/nall.html > > you will see that the majority of pilot errors are things like fuel > > exhaustion, > > _continuing_ flight into adverse weather conditions (as opposed to > > turning around & land), > > low level maneuvering 'buzzing'. > > > When driving, every mistake, a momentary lapse in concentration can > > result in an accident, > > thus 100% of total driving time is 'critical' time. > > > When flying, the critical time is about 5% of flight time, during > > takeoffs and landings. > > This is when lack of skill can result in a chain of events leading to > > an accident, > > and most of these are non-fatal. > > The majority of fatal accidents are the result of improper decision > > making, often started > > before the flight even began, and isn't due to lack of flying skills. > > > On Jan 13, 10:41 am, Scott Melton <scott_rides_ag...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > Living in Colorado I would love to learn how to fly, but still think it > > > is too dangerous, especially in the mountains.. You almost had me with > > > flying is safer than driving, but then I realized most auto accidents are > > > also caused by user error... > > > > sigh... > > > > --- On Wed, 1/13/10, Lenny P <lpri...@hope.nyc.ny.us> wrote: > > > > From: Lenny P <lpri...@hope.nyc.ny.us> > > > Subject: [The Java Posse] Re: Joe's R/C Copter > > > To: "The Java Posse" <javaposse@googlegroups.com> > > > Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 8:14 AM > > > > I fly in the most expensive place near Manhattan, > > > it's $275/hr + instructor, for flight time only, > > > not for 'total time' > > > so it actually is more affordable than people think. > > > I fly around 1hr every 3 weeks on average, > > > not too expensive if you ask me. > > > > And, an airplane is about $125/hr on average, so that's even cheaper. > > > > Most heli, like airplane accidents are pilot error, so discounting > > > that it's safer to fly than to drive. > > > > On Jan 12, 4:12 pm, Casper Bang <casper.b...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > Would totally fly a heli if I could, last time though I had to pay > > > > $300 just to be a passenger. So I practice on smaller models and hope > > > > to someday build a FPV one:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUupKOC1bTo > > > > > ...which is 100% risk free flying. lol > > > > > /Casper > > > > > On Jan 12, 10:03 pm, Scott Melton <scott_rides_ag...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > > > And the risk to life and limb? > > > > > > --- On Tue, 1/12/10, Kevin Wright <kev.lee.wri...@googlemail.com> > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > From: Kevin Wright <kev.lee.wri...@googlemail.com> > > > > > Subject: Re: [The Java Posse] Re: Joe's R/C Copter > > > > > To: javaposse@googlegroups.com > > > > > Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 1:44 PM > > > > > > Besides the cost? > > > > > > 2010/1/12 Lenny P <lpri...@hope.nyc.ny.us> > > > > > > Why not fly a real helicopter? It's a lot of fun and a rewarding > > > > > > accomplishment. > > > > > > On Jan 6, 3:53 am, Phil <p...@haigh-family.com> wrote: > > > > > > > I have something similar to what Tor described, erm sorry, I bought > > > > > > one for my son last Christmas!! After playing with his indoor toy > > > > > > for > > > > > > some time I ended up getting a T-Rex 450 of my own (I already fly > > > > > > R/C > > > > > > fixed wing). Good fun! Go Tor... > > > > > > -- > > > > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > > > > > Groups "The Java Posse" group. > > > > > > To post to this group, send email to javapo...@googlegroups.com. > > > > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > > > > javaposse+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > > > > > For more options, visit this group > > > > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en. > > > > > > -- > > > > > Kevin Wright > > > > > > mail/google talk: kev.lee.wri...@googlemail.com > > > > > wave: kev.lee.wri...@googlewave.com > > > > > > skype: kev.lee.wright > > > > > twitter: @thecoda > > > > > > -- > > > > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > > > > > Groups "The Java Posse" group. > > > > > > To post to this group, send email to javapo...@googlegroups.com. > > > > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > > > > javaposse+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > > > > > For more options, visit this group > > > > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en. > > > > -- > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > > "The Java Posse" group. > > > To post to this group, send email to javapo...@googlegroups.com. > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > > javaposse+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > > For more options, visit this group > > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.
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