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  • Chapter 11: Aircraft Performance › Takeoff and Landing Performance › Takeoff Performance

    allow the aircraft to reach the lift-off speed at a lower groundspeed, while the effect of a tailwind is to require the aircraft to achieve a greater groundspeed to attain the lift-off speed. A headwind that ... percent of the takeoff airspeed reduces the takeoff distance approximately 19 percent. However, a tailwind that is 10 percent of the takeoff airspeed increases the takeoff distance approximately 21 percent. In the case where the headwind speed is 50 percent…

  • Chapter 7: Helicopter Performance › Factors Affecting Performance › Winds

    important consideration. Headwinds are the most desirable as they contribute to the greatest increase in performance. Strong crosswinds and tailwinds may require the use of more tail rotor thrust to maintain directional control. This increased tail rotor thrust absorbs power ... translational lift is achieved earlier, resulting in more lift and a steeper climb angle. When taking off with a tailwind, more distance is required to accelerate through translation lift…

  • Chapter 7. Safety of Flight › Section 4. Wake Turbulence › 7-4-4. Vortex Behavior

    time and hasten the drift of the downwind vortex toward another runway. (See FIG 7-4-6.) Similarly, a tailwind condition can move the vortices of the preceding aircraft forward into the touchdown zone. THE LIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND REQUIRES MAXIMUM ... aircraft upwind from their approach and takeoff flight paths. (See FIG 7-4-7.) Vortex Movement in Ground Effect - Tailwind…

  • Chapter 9: Basic Flight Maneuvers › Hovering Turn › Technique

    increase at a rapid rate due to the tendency of the tail surfaces to weathervane. Because of the tailwind condition, hold rearward cyclic pressure to keep the helicopter over the same spot. Figure 9-6. Left turns in helicopters with ... hovering turn to the left. The horizontal stabilizer has a tendency to lift the tail during a tailwind condition. This is the most difficult portion of the hovering turn. Horizontal and vertical stabilizers have several different designs and locations, including…

  • Chapter 12: Weather Theory › Wind and Currents › Low-Level Wind Shear

    aircraft. It can rapidly change the performance of the aircraft and disrupt the normal flight attitude. For example, a tailwind quickly changing to a headwind causes an increase in airspeed and performance. Conversely, a headwind changing to a tailwind causes…

  • Chapter 7. Safety of Flight › Section 1. Meteorology › 7-1-24. Microbursts

    winds near the surface can be as strong as 45 knots resulting in a 90 knot shear (headwind to tailwind change for a traversing aircraft) across the microburst. These strong horizontal winds occur within a few hundred feet ... this is followed in short succession by a decreasing headwind component (2), a downdraft (3), and finally a strong tailwind (4), where 2 through 5 all result in decreasing performance of the airplane. Position (5) represents an extreme situation just…