Ex. 10 Transitions from hover to climb and approach to hover

Ground effect will be lost as we transition forwards, resulting in an increase in power required to maintain height. In the inital phases of the transition. The reverse is true at the end of an approach and ground effect is gained as height is decreased, ground effect is at a maximum in a nil wind, low hover.

In contrast to the loss of Ground Effect, as airspeed is increased translational lift is gained. Translational lift is a result of the airflow across the disc becoming more horizontal, reducing the induced flow across the disc.

As the helicopter accelerates an effect known as flapback occurs, the rotor disc will tip away from the relative wind. So in the case of forward acceleration as speed is gained the disc will flap to the rear or 'Flapback'.

All single engine helicopters have an set of speed and height combinations from which, a safe autorotative landing would be difficult.

All transitions should be preceeded by a lookout turn, to check that another aircraft is neither behind nor above us.

As you may be aware from air law (collision avoiance), anything which two objects which have a constant relative bearing (i.e. Something which does not move on the screen) will collide. We use this knowledge to enable us to fly a constant angle approach. We teach this by introducing the student to the 'sight picture' and commencing our descent at our chosen approach speed. We then keep the aiming point in a constant position in the window by making small adjustments with the lever. If the aiming goes down the window we lower the lever, if the aiming point goes up the window we raise the lever. Assuming that a constant airspeed will result in a constant groundspeed then we will fly at a constant angle to the aiming point down the approach.

At some point on the approach we need to slow down.