Air Support - Circle vs. Hover

[nickvig]

Is there a reason for air support to circle vs. hover? I have no idea (about flying helicopters) either way, but I was just curious.

[9mmepiphany]

two actually
1. it's easier
2. due to the nature of the moving wing, they don't actually hover when far enough off the ground to do any good, if you mean it in the same sense that a hawk or hummingbird can hover, they are always moving either forward, backward or sideways

[CSDGuy]

Hovering requires a LOT of power. Flying forward, even if in a circular manner, requires a lot less power. Also, moving objects are harder to hit than stationary ones... Mostly though, it has to do with the amount of power required and high fuel burn rate necessary to maintain a hover. Orbiting is much more fuel and power efficient.

[PM720]

I thought someone told me once they had to have some forward motion in order to Autorotate should it be required? Also, harder to hit the moving target as noted.

Scott

[Trigger Finger]

I was told by Air Support the same thing as above and the fact that somehow the air becomes "stale" underneath and makes it very hard to maintain a hover. There was also an unrelated thing that happened on my department. There was a rumor that when the chopper hovered they were taking pictures of you. Paranoid cops.

[joefreas]

Dont need to be moving forward to autorotate, although you will end up pointed into the wind. There are three main reasons for circling; moving target for rpg's, power/collective will be on a reduced setting, and it is easier. Also when setting up for the gunner targeting circling can help get the correct positioning to prevent excessive backscatter.

Edited to say I am talking about the AH1W/Z cobra heli currently in Iraq. Didnt notice this was in the LEO forum.

[Ron-Solo]

Forward motion also gives you more manuvering ability in the event of an emergency. I spent a lot of time flying in circles looking for bad guys.

[MIL-MH65]

Saves on the gas bill...it's cheaper/less gas to circle then hover+ more time on scene.

Hovering is a gas hog+ Pilot fatigue+Less time.

[eltee]

Yea...I used to ride with my dept's flyboys and they referred to it as orbit left or orbit right. The roll angle maximized the observer's view (if no FLIR or remote cam is used), allowed use of binocs, handheld cameras, scopes, etc. Apparently at altitude, orbiting drew less ground attention than a hover.

[thebronze]

For the reasons that others have said. Airspeed (orbiting) is better than no airspeed (hovering) if something goes wrong.

[bodyarmorguy27]

News choppers typically hover at higher altitudes. Police choppers work at much lower altitudes. Orbiting gives them options should things go wrong. Orbiting also gives them a 360 degree view of the location.

I've done several "ride-alongs". The circling makes me airsick. especially at night when it's harder to see the horizon.

[nickvig]

Thanks for the info. Air support was flying around my house last night and I was wondering why they'd circle if they kept the spot pointed in one place. You guys answered my question for sure!

[C.W.M.V.]

I saw a kiowa shot down because the pilot wanted to hover.

[retired]

News choppers typically hover at higher altitudes. Police choppers work at much lower altitudes. Orbiting gives them options should things go wrong. Orbiting also gives them a 360 degree view of the location.

I've done several "ride-alongs". The circling makes me airsick. especially at night when it's harder to see the horizon.

I too flew in several ride alongs and once looking for a 211 suspect. I like helicopters when they go straight. Oribiting.....not so much.

[CaliTheKid]

Also....(depending on make of chopper) forward motion cools down the engines vs. hover which does not.