Hovering

Lockheed F-35B "Fat Amy" hovering during program development.

Boeing CH-47 Chinook hovering over troops.

Hovering refers to a maneuver where the helicopter maintains a constant position, usually a few feet above the ground, by balancing lift and weight.

Definition

Hovering is a maneuver where a helicopter remains in nearly motionless flight over a reference point, maintaining a constant altitude and heading.

Lift and Weight Balance

The main rotor must generate enough lift to counteract the helicopter’s total weight.

Rotor Blade Pitch

The angle of attack (pitch) of the rotor blades is adjusted to control the amount of lift generated, allowing the helicopter to hover.

Vertical Flight

Hovering is an element of vertical flight, where the helicopter can move up or down by adjusting the balance of forces.

Control Inputs

Pilots use the cyclic (to control lateral and longitudinal movements) and the collective (to control altitude) to maintain a stable hover.

Practice and Skill

Hovering requires practice and a delicate touch on the controls, with pilots learning to anticipate control inputs and maintain stability.

Visual References

Visual references on the ground, such as markers or landmarks, can help pilots maintain orientation and position while hovering.

Wind Conditions

Wind conditions can affect hovering, requiring pilots to make adjustments to maintain a stable hover.

Tail Rotor

The tail rotor helps to counteract the torque of the main rotor, allowing the helicopter to turn and maintain directional control during a hover.

Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness (LTE)

Pilots need to be aware of LTE regions, which can occur when operating out of ground effect (OGE) or near maximum torque available (MTA).

Types of Hovering Turns

Pilots can perform different types of hovering turns, such as turning about the tail or nose, to maintain clearance from obstacles.

VTOL Aircraft Hovering

Aircraft like the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II and the Harrier jump jet use vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology to hover.

F-35B Lightning II

• The F-35B has a vertical lifting fan that functions like a miniature helicopter, enabling vertical takeoff and landing.
• The LiftSystem is the only vertical lift tech developed for supersonic jets in production.

Harrier Jump Jet

• The Harrier uses a jet engine with thrust-vectoring nozzles that swivel downwards to generate lift and enable hovering.

VTOL Technology

• VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft, including tiltrotors like the V-22 Osprey and jets like the Harrier and F-35B, operate without runways.

References

• Lockheed Martin
• Army Aviation Magazine