Quote:
Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch
I've probably done a dozen landings so far (about half of them with no damage - go me!) but they've all had forward speed. As soon as I decend vertically and apply a slight bit of collective to reduce that speed it goes all - BEEEEEP, BEEEEEP, BEEEEEP - on me.
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You have to decrease your speed SLOWLY. Don't try to get abruptly to a standstill in mid air or your chopper will drop like a stone. While you are decreasing your speed you have to constantly check your vertical speed indicator. Once you get in to the "shaker zone" you must be ready to correct your dive speed with the collective (was it the collective? The lever that adjusts your rotor pitch...
). You have to react even to the slightest increase in drop speed or it will be too late.
Usually helicopter landings are not like in the movies where they approach a landing zone at full speed, decelerate hard and set down within 5 seconds. It's more like the final approach of an aircraft where you steadily fly towards your target, constantly bleeding speed and altitude. It can take several minutes from seeing your landing zone till touching down.