What's the name of the maneuver often performed by Airwolf or a model of the helicopter?

Question

I think there are two versions, one with and one without a rotation at the end. If it was a trick, how was it performed or how might it have been?

I'm refering to the vertical climb where Airwolf drops its nose at the end, sometimes rotating while doing so.

Answer 1

I think you might be referring to a torque-turn, also called a hammerhead, it's when you fly straight and level with some speed and then start going nose up to where you are nearly vertical. Just before you lose upwards momentum, you kick one of the pedal and yaw 180 degrees to the left or right and you descend nose first and then level out again.

It is a trick and doesn't really have much real-world purpose, but it's fun to do.
I've seen Airwolf but I'm not really sure if this is the trick you're asking about, I don't really remember them doing it too often on the show, but then again I haven't seen it in quite awhile.

Answer 2

I am an old airwolf fan. The maneuver is the immelmann when he rotates in the middle of his loop. Otherwise it's just a loop. Today many helos can roll and loop. However the Augusta A-109 wasn't one of them as a crash during filming proved all too tragically. The helo with out all those movie add ons probably could have done the maneuver but with them it was too much. So they use camera tricks for the special moves. The camera being rotated to give the impression of looping or rolling although some rolls were real filmed early in the series before the accident. I think you will notice that the background it these shots are the sky only . This is done so you can't tell the real orientation of the helicopter. This was done a lot in the Blue Thunder series too.

Answer 3

I think it is what you call an "autorotation"....where the helicopter lands engine off but rotor still spinning. I'm assuming that's what you meant. As far as I know all helis are capable of doing this. I couldn't tell you how it is done since I'm not a pilot of full-sized helis. ..but as soon as I have it flight ready I will be learning to fly a Piccolo (model heli).

Answer 4

Yes. But only on a choking person