What kind of rope should be used for helicopter abseil?

2023-11-30 10:57:48

We often see in movies and TV shows that when helicopters drop soldiers, they don't stop directly on the ground and wait for the soldiers to come down. Instead, they throw out a rope and let the soldiers slide down the rope. Why use a rope for rappelling? Do not choose to land by plane.

At present, there are two main methods of helicopter delivery, one is "rapid vertical landing in mid-air", which is what we call rope landing, and the second is "helicopter landing", which is aircraft landing. Generally speaking, rope descent is suitable for the rapid delivery of personnel. The personnel who land first can quickly form a defense circle to ensure the safety of the entire delivery process. At the same time, the helicopter can also respond to sudden emergencies anytime and anywhere at high altitudes. Situation: Airborne landings are mostly used for the delivery of equipment and supplies, and are generally suitable for relatively stable positions.

A normal helicopter landing can be roughly divided into four steps: approach, deceleration, tilt-up stop, and touchdown (hovering). During the entire process, touchdown and hovering are dangerous moments. Especially when touching the ground. Generally speaking, the mobility when touching the ground is 0. Of course, hovering is also very dangerous because it is easily attacked by ground fire.

For transport helicopters, entering the battlefield, especially penetrating behind enemy lines, is a very dangerous matter, so the method used for delivery still requires detailed analysis of the specific situation.

Generally speaking, first consider factors such as terrain and geology. If the surface is relatively flat and the geological hardness is acceptable, it is suitable for air landing. However, if the landing location is a desert, swamp or snowy area, most people will choose to use rope descent. . This is because large amounts of drifting snow and dust can not only severely damage the engine, but also affect the pilot's vision. If you don’t know the terrain and geological conditions, you may not be able to accurately judge by observing from a high altitude, so you will choose to rappel at this time. In addition, if you are flying in formation, this situation has higher requirements on the terrain, because the mutual influence also needs to be considered.

The second thing is to consider the battlefield environment. Relatively speaking, the protection of helicopters is relatively weak, especially the rotors and tails. These two parts are very vulnerable to attack during hovering or landing. If it is an urban battle, the risk factor will be higher. Whether it is an original RPG or a small weapon, it will pose a fatal threat. Therefore, if helicopters are to participate in urban warfare, plans and plans before dispatch are indispensable.

The impact of the vortex ring state on the helicopter must also be considered. Any situation may occur on the battlefield. Since the load of transport helicopters is relatively large, if the descent rate is not controlled well, it is likely to enter the vortex ring. Once this happens, it will cause a larger disaster. Therefore, if it is a personnel release, the rappel method will be chosen. Once the rappel is completed, it can be immediately lifted up and evacuated from the danger zone, which has a much greater advantage than air descent.