Helicopter Flight Dynamics, 3rd Edition

8Flying Qualities: Forms of Degradation

A Merlin Mk 3 in the desert creating its own DVE

The future of the helicopter is immense and later the craft will be a very familiar sight in the air to everyone. It will also be capable of rendering a great number of services which no other craft can render, and can be described as the greatest friend in need in the case of an emergency.

Igor Sikorsky at the end of his lecture ‘Sikorsky Helicopter Development’ presented to the Helicopter Association of Great Britain at Mansion House, London, on Saturday 8 September 1947.

8.1 Introduction and Scope

As Sikorsky foretold with confidence and optimism in Ref. 8.1, the helicopter would indeed serve mankind as a ‘friend in need’, but as often happens, its unique capability would be usable only by pilots exercising very high levels of flying skills, and, in dangerous and emergency situations, by pushing both safety and performance to the limits. Sikorsky talked in his lecture about the significance of the helicopter in rescue service. He recounted a recent occurrence with ‘satisfaction and great encouragement’, to quote:

The police rang up the factory to say that an oil carrying barge with two men on board was in distress and was starting to disintegrate, water sweeping over the surface of the barge. We immediately dispatched a helicopter with a hoisting sling and in spite of a wind of 60 mph ...