Autorotation!

[Ilyushka00]

Ok, so I can hover effortlessly in a 5x5m imaginary box, I can taxi comfortably at 5m AGL, and land smoothly on top of buildings. In other words, I love flying the Gazelle and can control it quite well, but I can't for the love of this bird autorotate! A skill which I want to master before I can call myself a good Gazelle pilot. I watched a couple of videos on youtube, including Chuck's, I followed instruction precisely; drop collective, maintain ~120km/hr on descent, flare moderately at 20m AGL, raise collective to bring it down smoothly.

 

It just doesn't work, I flare to reduce speed and raise collective but I can't seem to generate enough lift unless I pull full collective. It's either all collective or I smack the ground. In the former case, full collective will reduce the rate of descent (even make it climb if I overcompensate) for about 2 seconds, and then smack!

 

I tried all sorts of different combinations and trials, a skidding autoration, slower/faster speed, flare slightly high, flare slightly low, flare more/less, increase collective more/less at higher/lower altitude. Nothing is working :cry:

 

Can anyone please please share a track file of a good autorotation that I can try to reproduce and learn?? :joystick:

[M]

Can you post a video which shows the control inputs you're making at each stage?

[Yurgon]

I just trashed some 30 or so Gazelles trying to autorotate properly (I had tried it in the past, but apparently not enough). ;)

 

The first attempts were all terrible. Then I watched Chuck's tutorial video, which instantly improved my skills from "certain death" to "might get released from hospital sometime later this decade". :D

 

I think the problem is that you have to perform exactly the right inputs at exactly the right time. Flaring too soon or too late, pulling collective too soon or too late or too strong or not strong enough will all result in big chunks of Gazelle sprayed all over the place.

 

I guess as with everything the key is to practice, practice, practice.

 

A video or a track would be very helpful so that we (as in: those who can actually autorotate and walk away from it :D) can take a virtual look over your shoulder and hopefully give some advice what you should look out for specifically. :thumbup:

[Ilyushka00]

I just trashed some 30 or so Gazelles trying to autorotate properly (I had tried it in the past, but apparently not enough). ;)

 

The first attempts were all terrible. Then I watched Chuck's tutorial video, which instantly improved my skills from "certain death" to "might get released from hospital sometime later this decade". :D

 

I think the problem is that you have to perform exactly the right inputs at exactly the right time. Flaring too soon or too late, pulling collective too soon or too late or too strong or not strong enough will all result in big chunks of Gazelle sprayed all over the place.

 

I guess as with everything the key is to practice, practice, practice.

 

A video or a track would be very helpful so that we (as in: those who can actually autorotate and walk away from it :D) can take a virtual look over your shoulder and hopefully give some advice what you should look out for specifically. :thumbup:

 

Chuck's video was quite helpful and was indeed my reference. Will post a track tonight, probably of me trashing a gazelle :lol:

[Ilyushka00]

Right, hours of practice led to a few AR's that didn't trash the Gazelle :D Attaching a track file of one of these. That's pretty much the only technique I can follow, pulling full collective towards the end, so not sure how Chuck managed to land with 60% on that torque meter. I'd really appreciate any pointers. Thanks! :)

AR attempt.trk

[Cibit]

I tried after reading this thread. I recorded 4 attempts and forgot to record the most successful. The only one I could have taken off again. However I guess practise will make perfect. On the plus side you can get someone who can do it to sit in the left seat.

I uploaded the video of the 2nd most successful landing, I will probably be in traction next to Yurgon (Thx for rep ™) in a hospital bed in Georgia for the next six months.

For comparison same mission with a huey. Who would have thought a huey was more aerodynamic than a gazelle;)

Edited August 28, 2016 by Cibit

[Ilyushka00]

Recorded the exact track I posted above. After much practice, I'm pretty much walking away unharmed now...most of the time, but only when landing on asphalt, over grass it's deadly as the Gazelle doesn't really skid but gets trashed around.

 

[Yurgon]

I'm officially envious now, that looked really good! :thumbup:

[BaD CrC]

Most difficult DCS chopper to autorotate.

 

[Ilyushka00]

Thanks bud! :) I hope to figure how to make it land safely on grass through, or perhaps it's a DCS limitation with the way the skids behave on "off-road" surfaces.

 

I'm officially envious now, that looked really good! :thumbup:

Edited August 29, 2016 by Ilyushka00