endotherm
First Officer
Flight distance : 503241 ft
Australia
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I get that the designers have limited the descent speed based on previous models experience with VRS, regardless of whether prop guards are fitted or not. My understanding of VRS is that you are descending down into your own turbulence, which isn't there if you are also moving forward at the time. What I was suggesting is having the firmware being aware that you are moving forward at speed, allowing you to descend faster than the 3m/s safety limit because the VRS would not be present under the props. If you aren't moving forward and descending the 3m/s would apply. If you are moving forward and descending, or corkscrewing, the limit could be increased proportionally up to say 6m/s. It would be a condition like how the left stick down turns off the motors, but it is conditional on vertical speed=0. What I'm suggesting is:
if horizontal speed=0 then VS = -3m/s max
if HS = 3 to 5m/s, then VS = -4m/s
...
and so on up to -6m/s at full horizontal speed.
Also, I thought I read somewhere that the designers were able to increase the descent rate from earlier models by using the larger P3 props, suggesting the VRS doesn't occur as early with the newer/larger/wiider props.
I've flown with and without prop guards and not really noticed a difference. I tend to fly in still air or low wind speeds though. I've come straight down at full speed from 120m with guards and not seen any instability -- maybe I've just been lucky or -3m/s is enough to handle prop wash and guard wash.
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