Helicopters Again
Russ asks:
"Did someone start a war over Blackheath and Greenwich? There's a sudden influx of military helicopters regularly flying overhead, are the US invading us soon or what?Your answer would be appreciated."
The Phantom replies:
This is a constant occupational hazard, living here. We're directly beneath the holding pattern for light helicopters waiting permission to enter London airspace - but in comparison to those massive Chinooks, who are a law unto themselves, the commercial craft pale into the soft humming sounds of summer alongside the purring engines of a distant petrol mower and the crack of leather against willow.
I have to say that most of the time it doesn't really bother me too much, but this weekend it did get quite heavy-going. At one point a helicopter flew so low that I actually thought it was in trouble.
Whatever, at some point, we may be able to do about commercial flights, I'm guessing there's nothing can be done about the military stuff - we're stuck with them. They do what they damn please.
On a slightly different note, maybe someone can help me out with a small physics question. The blades on a Chinook. DO they go round in opposite directions to each other (they appear to) and how does that work, then?
"Did someone start a war over Blackheath and Greenwich? There's a sudden influx of military helicopters regularly flying overhead, are the US invading us soon or what?Your answer would be appreciated."
The Phantom replies:
This is a constant occupational hazard, living here. We're directly beneath the holding pattern for light helicopters waiting permission to enter London airspace - but in comparison to those massive Chinooks, who are a law unto themselves, the commercial craft pale into the soft humming sounds of summer alongside the purring engines of a distant petrol mower and the crack of leather against willow.
I have to say that most of the time it doesn't really bother me too much, but this weekend it did get quite heavy-going. At one point a helicopter flew so low that I actually thought it was in trouble.
Whatever, at some point, we may be able to do about commercial flights, I'm guessing there's nothing can be done about the military stuff - we're stuck with them. They do what they damn please.
On a slightly different note, maybe someone can help me out with a small physics question. The blades on a Chinook. DO they go round in opposite directions to each other (they appear to) and how does that work, then?
Labels: Debates, Helicopter noise
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
08:09
14 Comments:
The rotor on a helicopter produces a rotational force - the body of the helicopter will spin on its axis if there's nothing to balance it out. On a conventional single-rotor helicopter, the smaller vertically-mounted rotor at the back produces the opposite rotational force to keep the copter stable (which is why you see them spinning out of control in war films when the back propeller is blown away). On a chinook the two rotors spin in opposite directions and the torque and anti-torque cancel each other out... Spin the same direction and you'd get a pretty wild fairground ride a bit like that one with teacups.
Thank you Donovan - ask and ye shall receive. A clear and concise explanation. I shall be coming back to you, Oh Wise One, with some more questions nobody's ever been able to fully explain to me...
I believe your right in thinking Chinook blades go in opposite rotations Phantom, but alas I dont know what the physics is behind that, I'm guessing it has something to do with the stability of the aircraft. Years ago I worked on "Miss Saigon" and the blades on our stage helicopter were made of rope with rubber balls on the end and nothing more than centrapetal force to extend them. Sorry not quite the answer we wanted.
PS I like the Chinooks, makes me feel like a kid in a game!Exciting!
i live on the heath and saw two apache gunships the other day! makes a change from the chinnok.
I love a good gunship me......chuga chuga chuga rat atat rat atat.....neeeaaawww..
I too have seen the gunships and wondered where the best hiding space was if they decide to fire on me. Would a car suffice or would it need to be a concrete wall?
Are they loaded with missiles or just machine guns?
If they are "Apache" helicopters then they just have bows 'n' arrows, of course.
Hold that thought Benedict.....What would a Black Hawk use as weaponry? Should we all be walking around with Umbrellas?
I was once told that there was a Landing site in Woolwich to do with the Barracks, any truth in that?
Apache Helicopters tend to be armed with:
1 x 30mm HEDP Machine gun
(That is a machine gun that fires explosive shells)
2 racks of 4 Rockwell Hellfire Missiles
(Guided missiles that blow up tanks)
2 pods of 64 unguided rockets
Although different loads are possible depending on what they want. But the machine gun is integral and in fact linked up to some very clever eye tracking stuff so it always points at whatever the gunner is looking at. Which is very lovely, it's just a shame that it's used for guns and all.
Sorry.. boring stuff, Helicopter nerd, but you did ask.
There's a landing site in Woolwich, there's also one at Hollyhedge House on Blackheath (by Wat Tyler Road/ Hare and Billet Road).
Not to mention the giant (H) on the piece of unused ground by the Dome.
Anyone actually seen a helicopter land there?
I think I saw a helicopter parked there a year ago, but maybe I imagined it!
I've once travelled in a Puma helicoptor, from Pristina to Kosovo - very noisy but a great experience; night vision goggles and all!!!
I saw a helicopter taking off from the 'H' by the Dome one of the days that the Spice Girls were playing at the O2
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