Comments on: Vortex Ring State (formerly Settling with Power)

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:33:55 +0000

Having a target pitch attitude is great…this is something that nobody’s ever clarified for me. Also, good point about demonstrating recognition of and recovery from incipient VRS rather than demonstration of fully-developed VRS. All of my flight training experience has been with the former rather than the latter, and I don’t think this is a point that’s clearly communicated to students. Thanks for your comment!

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 06:26:04 +0000

Hi Chris,

Your lesson plan is fine for incipent VR entry and recovery. I like your format. I recommend you clarify the recovery attitude — e.g., 10-15 degrees nose-down until approaching Vy. Any more than that is counter productive and may startle the student.

If your intent is to demonstrate Vortex Ring State then you should have at least 3000 feet under you. I’ve reached rates of descent greater than 4,000 feet per minute. It may take a good 1000 feet to established full VRS.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:04:30 +0000

I think the lesson is fine. 1500 AGL is a great altitude to practice settling with power. You could be higher, but you don’t want to be any lower, especially if you let VRS develop and explain whats happening for a bit before you recover. I see nothing that warrants the first post..

The 60 knot attitude comment could confuse some people. Your talking about achieving that nose low attitude, which is correct….some people may get hung up on the 60 knots part (your not recommending achieving 60 knots, just a 60 knot attitude)..

Great idea for a site.. Ill definitely contribute..

CFII

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:39:26 +0000

I've double-checked this lesson plan, and still think it's appropriate. You can read about the resources that went into it in this post.

By: You Are Correct: I Don’t Know Everything |

You Are Correct: I Don’t Know Everything | — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:46:58 +0000

[...] week I received a comment on the Settling with Power lesson plan, but didn’t see it until recently (spam filters [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:36:17 +0000

For some reason your comment got sent to the spam folder and I didn’t see it until I started doing some maintenance today. All feedback is welcome, but I’d appreciate it if you elaborate on this some–the whole point of this site is to communicate training techniques. I’m reviewing this lesson plan to ensure that it is consistent with the sources that I usually go to (the R22 Maneuver Guide, and the Transport Canada, Australian CASA helicopter training guides). I think part of the problem is (based on the PPRUNE discussion) that I, like many other students, was taught incipient VRS, where we recover “at the first signs” of VRS. If this is the case, many students leave their training thinking they know VRS when in fact they’re experiencing something well short of it. Is this a problem? Only if we think we’re learning VRS, and not realizing that we’re really learning avoidance. Thoughts?

By: C Jaeger

C Jaeger — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:11:20 +0000

This is far too erroneous. It is conflicting in places and the entry height is suicidal.
If you don’t understand the topic, please don’t spread your solutions on it to everyone else???