SA342M and ground effect

[Sryan]

Heya Polychop.

 

Great work on the Gazelle. However I do have a question. Is ground effect not modelled yet? I seem to be getting no effects when getting close to the ground. And I can find no power setting that only enables me to hover close to the ground.

[1.JaVA_Platypus]

I think it is modelled. Watch your VSI closely as you decend it from a kind of hoover situation. It kicks in at about 20m to 10m.

[sidewin]

mmmm, i think its not working right now.

[Aginor]

I am not sure how much it should be, but I don't feel it either.

Perhaps that is correct though, I am by no means an expert.

[MBot]

There is definitely an effect in regards to objects. Try hovering next to a container, then slowly move above it. The helicopter will immediately climb. The same is true when hovering above the container. Move side wards and the helicopter will immediately drop. It is very abrupt.

 

With regards to the ground itself, I have also difficulties to recognize a ground effect. It is certainly different from the Huey, where the ground effect is easily noticeable and also gets increasingly stronger the closer you get to the ground. Due to this, the Huey has a strong tendency to stabilize altitude when descending in the ground effect and requires continuous reduction of collective to actually settle down. I haven't noticed this yet with the Gazelle.

[hog_driver111th]

I don't have the Gazelle (yet), but I have flown Helos real world. I've been trying to say this on Facebook, but "The Gazelle is not the Huey, and comparing the two is comparing how a Ferrari and my POS 1992 pickup truck run". The area of ground effect is dependent on the rotors. The Gazelle has a 3 blade mast, with narrow rotor blades. The Huey (older models) have a 2 blade mast with wide blades. The wider blades will cause a more induced ground effect than the smaller Gazelle blades. Having said that, I have never flown a Gazelle, but I have flown a small piston helo, and the ground effect wasn't as much as I'm used to from flying fixed wing.

[Mt5_Roie]

Ground effect is modeled. Depending on how high you come in from, you might experience a quick drop in your VVI. Always keep an eye on that gauge when your coming in for a landing.

[MBot]

After another test I can confirm I notice the ground effect. In the attached test, I am hovering with different collective settings and which each setting, the helicopter oscillates around a different altitude. The effect is very small though, it certainly does not cushion settling down on the ground as it does with the Huey. Whether this is correct I can't comment on, I just recognize there is a difference.

[Mt5_Roie]

Huey is much wider then the Gazelle so ground effect on the Huey is not the same as the Gazelle.

 

After another test I can confirm I notice the ground effect. In the attached test, I am hovering with different collective settings and which each setting, the helicopter oscillates around a different altitude. The effect is very small though, it certainly does not cushion settling down on the ground as it does with the Huey. Whether this is correct I can't comment on, I just recognize there is a difference.