Vortex Ring State (Helicopter)

We know about the Osama Bin Laden raid in Pakistan; a previously-unknown stealth helicopter crashed in the compound, caused by a helicopter phenomenon known as "vortex ring state" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortexringstate] when the rotors are close to the ground. Any ideas/suggestions/TOTALLY INSANE methods to overcome this?

Easy Math Editor

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Comments

Can you explain this to me please?????

Namra Aziz - 8 years, 3 months ago

Hmmm.... well, the helicopter rotor works like an aircraft wing, except it is rotating at high speed. The wing-like airfoil generates lift. However, when the helicopter gets close to the ground and is hovering, the downwash (air pushed down to the ground by rotors) causes a "turbulence", flows back up and starts to fluctuate the lift. Eventually the lift got "killed" off, the helicopter stalls and crashes to the ground. Quickly moving the helicopter away works, but if it is close to obstructions it would be suicide. I want to know if there are other ways to solve this. sorry for not being clear anyways...

Kevin Techa - 8 years, 3 months ago

if it is moving in a circular manner then th lift would be successful

Prajwal Kavad - 7 years, 2 months ago

Here's an idea:land the helicopter somewhere else :D

Tan Li Xuan - 8 years, 3 months ago

-__- The same could occur, but yeah moving to "clean air" does work. still, it could crash into buildings, so I want to know other solutions

Kevin Techa - 8 years, 3 months ago

Maybe you could put some big "wings" under the rotor,with moving panels to deflect the downwash forward/backward/straight up.

Tan Li Xuan - 8 years, 3 months ago

Math	Appears as
Remember to wrap math in `\(` ... `\)` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\sum_{i=1}^3`	$\sum_{i=1}^3$
`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
`\boxed{123}`	$\boxed{123}$