| Weasel | 17 Sep 2014 10:43 a.m. PST |
Something like a black hawk, how much open space do you need to land the thing? Obviously, the area has to be clear of any tall obstacles that the rotors could hit, but are there concerns beyond the physical size of the vehicle? |
| David Manley | 17 Sep 2014 10:58 a.m. PST |
This might help…. FM 57-38 Chapter 4 link |
| haywire | 17 Sep 2014 10:59 a.m. PST |
The air below the helicopter needs to flow away from the area otherwise you run into control issues. Kinda like what happened to the blackhawk at Bin Laden's complex where the air being pushed down got pushed back up. EDIT: Or G. in the link above. |
| nickinsomerset | 17 Sep 2014 11:50 a.m. PST |
1996, a ski lodge near Fojnica in Bosnia. The task was a coordinated heliborne assault on a suspect Muhajadin training c amp.We did some work to identify suitable landing zones, in the event 2 Black Hawks landed just behind the lodge with their rear wheels on a slope in an area I would hesitate to park a couple of small cars!! Tally Ho! |
| Sundance | 17 Sep 2014 12:18 p.m. PST |
While David provided the most complete answer, the simple one is that from what I've seen you need 10 to 20 feet on each side of the rotors (in for example, a jungle/treed area). There were times in Vietnam that they landed with less, but it was always a close call. An unexpected gust could send you into the trees or another obstacle with disastrous results. If landing in an area more solid (as in the Bin Laden example), you might want a bit more space if possible. |
| Weasel | 17 Sep 2014 1:00 p.m. PST |
Makes total sense. I'm sure pilot skill plays into it as well. |
| EHeise | 17 Sep 2014 1:36 p.m. PST |
60 feet diameter circle and clear of obstructions in and outbound. I run an ER with a landing pad and thems the requirements on a really simple level. |
| EHeise | 17 Sep 2014 1:38 p.m. PST |
That's for helos the size used for medivacs. We have put Coast. Guard birds down on it though. |
| Chris Wimbrow | 17 Sep 2014 2:18 p.m. PST |
Sometimes you just do what you gotta do.
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| Milites | 17 Sep 2014 3:10 p.m. PST |
I've seen flying ambulance pilots land in places where there are obstacles a couple of feet each side of the rotor disk. |
| saltflats1929 | 17 Sep 2014 6:43 p.m. PST |
Slightly bigger than Osama's back garden. |
| Etranger | 18 Sep 2014 4:51 a.m. PST |
Robert Mason's Chickenhawk describes some very hairy LZs where he used the chopper blades to actually cut his way into the clearing! Excellent book BTW if you've never read it. This one doesn't look much larger!
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| badger22 | 18 Sep 2014 5:21 a.m. PST |
Also remember most choppers under heavy load dont so striaght up or down, so you have to have enough space to land and take off again. Wish I could remember more but the last time I went to school to set up an lz was a bit over 30 years ago, I know I shoiuld know but damned if I can remember owen |
| Lion in the Stars | 18 Sep 2014 1:11 p.m. PST |
[a 60ft clearing] for helos the size used for medivacs. We have put Coast. Guard birds down on it though. Which means it's big enough for Blackhawks or the old Sea Kings/Jolly Green Giants. @Chris Wimbrow: I see your "back wheels on the rooftop" and raise you "rear ramp on the edge of the terrace" YouTube link There couldn't be more than 5ft between the rotors of that Chinook and the next terrace up! |
| Leadjunky | 18 Sep 2014 7:36 p.m. PST |
A big chopper or a little one?😁 |
 Legion 4   | 21 Sep 2014 9:12 a.m. PST |
I ran a lot of LZs in my youth in the 101. The short answer is about a football field in size would make a good LZ/PZ for 3 UH-1s or UH-60s or 2 CH-47s … But as noted here, sometimes you can use smaller areas for an LZ. Another thing to take into consideration is weather and load in/slung outside the of bird. Hot thin air reduces lift. So the bird(s) have to take a running start based on load, like a fixed wing aircraft to get enough lift to pull pitch and gain altitude … I also read Chickenhawk and found it generally a good read … |
