I’m watching videos of rescue helicopters and noticed that some have their blades form a cone when flying low in bodies of water. This doesn’t seem to happen often on land so why in water?
In: Physics
Helicopter blades generate lift as they spin. The outside edge travels faster than the more central parts. Because the outside edge moves faster, it can generate more lift. When the helicopter blades are spinning very fast, the high levels of lift from the rotor tips can bend them upward, making a cone shape. The helicopters you’re seeing are apparently running at a higher RPM than they would be in other contexts.
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