The physical world: helicopters - for iPod/iPhone - podcast cover

The physical world: helicopters - for iPod/iPhone

The Open Universitywww3.open.ac.uk
Want to learn to fly a helicopter? In this album Royal Berkshire Ambulance pilots show two complete beginners the ropes. Normally, Marie and Tracey dispatch air ambulances, now they find out how to fly one. The five video tracks offer a hands-on explanation of the science and engineering behind helicopter flight. They show how rotors help this tonne of metal take off, change direction and gain speed. They explain the difference between traditional and cutting edge military technology, and demonstrate what happens in an emergency landing. This material forms part of the course S207 The physical world.
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Episodes

How helicopters fly

Marie and Tracey from the Royal Berkshire Ambulance Unit find out how helicopter rotors work.

Aug 11, 20095 min

Traditional rotor blades

How rotor blades are constructed to cut through the air and keep the helicopter off the ground.

Aug 11, 20095 min

Modern rotor blades

Large, high speed military helicopters test the limits of aerodynamics. Their rotors use cutting edge blade technology and design.

Aug 11, 20093 min

Transcript -- Modern rotor blades

Transcript -- Large, high speed military helicopters test the limits of aerodynamics. Their rotors use cutting edge blade technology and design.

Aug 11, 2009

Controlling a helicopter

The tail rotor keeps the helicopter from rotating. The cyclic stick is responsible for speed, direction and altitude control.

Aug 11, 20096 min

Emergency landing

If the engine cuts out, helicopters go into auto-rotation. Even if there is no engine power, the helicopter glides like a fixed wing aircraft.

Aug 11, 20094 min

Transcript -- Emergency landing

Transcript -- If the engine cuts out, helicopters go into auto-rotation. Even if there is no engine power, the helicopter glides like a fixed wing aircraft.

Aug 11, 2009
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