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The vortex ring state is a wing-induced rotor stall unique to tilt-rotors. Carlton Meyer, a former Marine who edits the Web site G2Mil.com, explains: "As a tilt-rotor descends vertically, each wing pushes the airflow away from half its rotor. The faster it descends, the greater the vacuum the wings create, resulting in less lift. As the pilots maneuver a V-22, they may shift the airflow causing one rotor to lose so much lift that it literally falls and flips the aircraft over."
A skilled pilot can avoid the vortex ring state by descending slowly; by not going straight down, and by not making sudden maneuvers during descent. This would be fine if the Osprey were to be used for commuter flights. But for a Marine assault force approaching a landing zone which has turned "hot," coming in slow and straight can be hazardous to health. The vortex ring state can be avoided if the Osprey descends no faster than 800 feet per minute. But most military helicopters can descend safely at 2,000 feet per minute. And because they don't have to worry about flipping over if they juke and weave, conventional helicopters can take evasive action to avoid enemy fire.
originally posted by: MystikMushroom
originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: buddah6
Sounds like you're right. They're reporting they were in hover mode and lost either power or lift.
Some talking head on TV said that the Osprey can cause a vacuum underneath it and cause it to get sucked into the ground.
Yikes!
originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: buddah6
That's what my wife told me when we first got together. When the magic runs out they crash.
originally posted by: buddah6
Sounds like media bullsh*t to me! They also believe that aircraft fly by "pure f**king magic" and when the PFM generator fails the plane crashes.