Tips for Learning Autorotations

Tips for Learning AutorotationsAn autorotation is a helicopter piloting maneuverthat consists of an entry (gaining altitude thendipping towards your target point at a certainspeed), a glide (a smooth pace from your entrypoint to the target), a flare (a sudden balanceadjustment to the helicopter rotors that turns itin midair on a designated vector), and the lastmove which consists of a touch down (if you'reintending to land) or a power recovery (meaningyou used the auto rotation to \"drift\" in midairand change course rapidly, so now you travel alongyour new vector).

In Automotive Racing terms, the autorotation isbest compared to a drift, where rapid changes indirection are done by making the car slide intoand with it's forward momentum while steering thenose directly into a new attack angle. Once thecar completes it's drift-slide, it's pointedsquarely at the new direction and goes straightinto it. Now, imagine doing that but add a THIRDdimension of altitude instead of operating on aflat plane.One of the keys to learning autorotation isawareness of the balance of your helicopter. Mostcivilians learning to pilot aircraft fail to takenotice of mild changes in the pitch, yaw, andattitude of the aircraft. In simple terms,remember that tilting the nose too high makes yougo up, dipping it down too much makes you eatpavement, and rolling too far to the left or rightalso affects the balance of the aircraft. Keep thehelicopter on an even keel at all times to avoid

loss of control. IF you can't physically get usedto \"feeling\" the balance of the helicopter, thenpay close attention to the meters on thedashboard.Balance aside, another key to masteringautorotation is control. This means that youshould put enough pressure on the pedals and stickto make your turns and changes in balance precise.I used the analogy of a car racing drift becauseit's easier for people to relate. Just like youshould avoid over or under steering on a drift,avoid stomping on the pedals or yanking on thestick.Lastly, know when to adjust power in anautorotation. Like applying gas and brakesproperly on a drift, the helicopter equivalentsare boosting the power for speed and cutting thepower back to arrest your forward momentum. Giventhe four parts of an autorotation, ramp the powerUP on entry, maintain it during the glide, cut it

back during the flare, and either kill it ontouchdown or boost it back up if going for a powerrecovery.