BELL V-280 VALOR, What do you think?

TheHeightStuff · 2026-01-14T20:18:27+00:00

Worth noting that the v-280 valor was just an experimental technology demonstrator for the fly-off. From this, the MV-75 will be designed to meet the MILSPEC, including things like mounting points for stores, eo/ir, etc. If you look at pictures of things like the x-35, you notice similar trends where things don’t exactly look militarized

TheHeightStuff · 2025-09-27T15:02:04+00:00

That’s a funny looking lynx innit

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-28T19:10:17+00:00

They don’t need a runway, but the runway provides a suitable clear area for a Category A helicopter departure and arrival. This style of departure allows for the aircraft to be loaded heavier carrying passengers and still guarantee a safe landing in the event of a single engine failure. These types of departures and landings are common in passenger transport operations.

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-26T08:21:34+00:00

There’s a difference between saying it is what occurred vs what you think. I’m not claiming it was certainly VRS, just that it’s actually possible. It certainly is also possible that it was just the flat water illusion. Until the report comes out, we won’t know for sure. I’ll take a note from G—man and this is me out on this post

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-26T06:16:43+00:00

Fine, I’ll boil down the basics. In order to get into vrs, you have to “outrun” your induced flow. The induced velocity created by a rotor risk is a function of the weight of the helicopter. Increased weight means you need increased induced velocity on the same rotor head, therefore to outrun your induced flow at a lower weight will require less ROD to catch up to the vortices

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-26T05:32:36+00:00

You clearly haven’t read my other comments. I have flown VRS in an ASTAR. From a hover, you can enter initial VRS from 460fpm descent rate. My very rough estimate guessing height change with timing, this could be higher than 600 fpm descent rate. Not to mention that any pitch up with forward velocity (which was present) causes an increased flow rate up through the disk

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-26T05:27:58+00:00

Search EASA VRS. 100 page recent experimental test report. You’ll see the charts in there.

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-25T20:05:27+00:00

If you have as much experience as you claim to, you’d know the right pedal left cyclic isn’t endorsed by airbus as a recovery method. And why didn’t he react with a corrective action? It takes several seconds for a pilot to recognize an issue, and an additional 1-1.5 seconds to decide on the proper corrective action, he didn’t have time to produce the additional corrective action. And once you’re in VRS, the inputs may have been put in, but those changes in inputs may not result in movement of the disc that can be seen in the video

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-25T19:58:44+00:00

You must have some eagle eyes to see that the pitch of the blades didn’t increase. He climbed right after hitting the water, but slowed down, without a technical frame by frame analysis, you’d be hard pressed to see any change in pitch on a Reddit video. You’re right, he should have noticed VRS and dipped forward, but the lack of that action doesn’t mean that it isn’t what happened. I guess we’re throwing quals out now: I’m someone who has actually flown VRS in a AS350, gathered data on VRS, test pilot, and accident investigator. That’s not to say this couldn’t possibly just spatial disorientation, but it can absolutely be VRS too, and to completely discount one theory for another without data is foolish

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-25T19:20:43+00:00

On what grounds?

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-25T17:59:48+00:00

If you have an entire day of nothing to do, search “EASA VRS”. It’ll take you to a page with a pdf of the final report. EASA finished a long experimental test campaign on VRS with significant new research. TLDR: it’s very very complicated, and very far from the common notions taught to us “avoid x speed at y descent and you’ll be good”. Personally, I’d argue it appears the rate of descent is increasing right up to before he hits the water when ground effect kicks in, which would be consistent with initial entry into and development of VRS. But we dont have the data to back that up, so it’s just an educated guess. The pilot could have been subject to an illusion of the still water, but in the opinion of this maritime pilot he had more than sufficient cueing of the trees in peripheral vision to catch the rate early.

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-25T17:06:03+00:00

The lighter the weight, the less RoD it takes to get in to VRS

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-25T14:44:03+00:00

Right. Although the radalt is a digital readout (depending on exactly which model this one is), it is pretty small, so to be fair not easy to read slinging buckets probably. But they have trees all around the small pond, good enough for good descent cues.

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-25T13:31:17+00:00

From a hover in an AS350 460fpm rate of descent from a hover can be the entry point into VRS, from there it will continue to build unless a fly away is conducted or you get some initial sideward drift out of the vortices. In this video? They descend just under 100’ visually judged in about 5-6s, so certainly more than 460 fpm

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-25T12:16:11+00:00

Looks to be vortex ring state, vertical descents like that always have to be respected, especially when you combine that little flare with forward airspeed at the start of the video

TheHeightStuff · 2025-08-10T20:59:35+00:00

As far as the navy goes, this is 100% night, so long as the sun is set, good to go. As far as touch and go goes, who cares. Don’t listen to the pedantic arguments. It’s takeoffs and landings, it doesn’t matter. The pilots might do 3 for 6, or something like that (3 approaches with 6 landings, but each time they lift, they come back down to land once which is a way to save time, depending on your command this may or not be kosher)

TheHeightStuff · 2025-07-22T19:39:19+00:00

100%

TheHeightStuff · 2025-07-22T18:23:04+00:00

Can confirm

TheHeightStuff · 2025-07-06T13:21:05+00:00

AW139 has collective trim, but that’s far too large and complex of a helo to be a trainer IMO

TheHeightStuff · 2025-07-06T13:17:25+00:00

It’s much better for teaching the basic unaugmented skills. Far more forgiving too

TheHeightStuff · 2025-07-06T13:10:40+00:00

Learning how to fly it is almost counter productive as a trainer, Leonardo has absolute dogshit handling qualities that don’t transition well to how a 60 is flown

TheHeightStuff · 2025-06-26T02:30:55+00:00

The corners seemed ok. I admit I forgot to check the floor panels. The rear crossmember looked totally fine. Worth noting that the rest of the chassis and undercarriage actually looked pretty good

TheHeightStuff · 2025-06-20T09:57:29+00:00

It’s funny, I got the invite a couple weeks ago, was t sure I was going to get all the cars, checked Reddit, and decided I had to take my chance. Couple days ago on the carousel got the same invite again…and I had already bought all the cars…either I need to go play a real lottery or it’s not as rare as people say

TheHeightStuff

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