Fact or Fiction? Autorotation

[rodrop]

While reading about autorotations, I came across this comment. Anyone know if this is the record?

 

The longest autorotation in history was performed by Jean Boulet in 1972 when he reached a record altitude of 12,440m (40,814 ft) in an Aérospatiale Lama. Because of a −63°C temperature at that altitude, the engine flamed out and could not be restarted as soon as he reduced power. By using autorotation he was able to land the aircraft safely.

 

[Gomer Pylot]

I remember hearing about that. I'm not sure whether it was planned, and I wasn't there, but I'm pretty sure it happened, since it was certainly reported.

[Wally]

While reading about autorotations, I came across this comment. Anyone know if this is the record?

 

The longest autorotation in history was performed by Jean Boulet in 1972 when he reached a record altitude of 12,440m (40,814 ft) in an Aérospatiale Lama. Because of a −63°C temperature at that altitude, the engine flamed out and could not be restarted as soon as he reduced power. By using autorotation he was able to land the aircraft safely.

 

 

I'm going to guess that that it is the whatever "record" as it has held as the altitude record for helicopter for a long time. The narrative I read said that Jean Boulet carried minimum fuel for the altitude record attempt, fuel starvation was anticipated. At one point in the descent the humidity condensing on the bubble froze, without any means of clearing the bubble, it obscured 'surface reference', requiring M. Boulet to revert to a limited panel to recover from an unusual attitude in the auto.

[500E]

http://avstop.com/feb_2011/jean_boulet_former_record_breaker_and_test_pilot_dies_at_age_90.htm

 

 

 

 

Jean Boulet Former Record Breaker And Test Pilot Dies At Age 90

 

By Mike Mitchell

 

 

 

February 18, 2011 - First hired in 1947 by the SNCASE, which would later become Sud Aviation and then the Helicopter division of the Aerospatiale Group, Jean Boulet was one of the greatest pioneers in the history of rotorcraft flight testing, he died on February 15, 2011.

 

Just a few highlights from his illustrious career include the first flights of the SE3000, the SE3101, the Alouette, Frelon, Puma, Gazelle families and the Lama. The records he established are no less impressive.

 

Jean Boulet would set 17 world records during his career, including the record for the highest altitude. Behind the controls of a Lama, Jean Boulet reached an altitude of 12,442 meters on June 21, 1972.

 

The Lama was designed specifically for altitude performance and during demonstration flights in the Himalayas during 1969, an SA315B carrying a crew of two and 120 kg of fuel landed and took off at the highest altitude then recorded, 7,500 m (24,605 ft).

 

On 21 June 1972, a Lama with a single pilot (Jean Boulet) aboard established a helicopter absolute altitude record of 12,442 m (40,814 ft), instantly followed by an inadvertent record for the longest ever autorotation when the engine flamed out at the peak altitude of the flight.

 

The longest autorotation in history was performed by Jean Boulet in 1972 when he reached a record altitude of 12,440m (40,814 ft) in an Aérospatiale Lama. Because of a −63°C temperature at that altitude, the engine flamed out and could not be restarted as soon as he reduced power. By using autorotation he was able to land the aircraft safely.

 

His record still stands today. Jean Boulet received the prestigious "X Supaéro" engineering degree from the French aeronautics institute in Toulouse, and chalked up more than 9,000 flight hours during the course of his career—including over 8,000 in helicopters. The courageous pilot was well known for his love of flying and derring-do, but was also widely respected for his modesty and unassuming nature.

 

 

The SNCASE SE.3120 Alouette ("Lark") was a utility helicopter developed in France in the early 1950s but which did not enter production. Designed in parallel with the SE.3110, the Alouette shared that machine's dynamic components, with the exception of its unusual twin tail rotor. The Alouette featured an open-framework fuselage behind a cockpit that was enclosed by a bubble canopy. Skid undercarriage and tricycle gear were both tested.

[Eric Hunt]

To reduce weight on the aircraft, the starter motor was removed after the engine started, so when it flamed out, there was no way of restarting it.

[Maggie]

Thanks for posting. I hadn't heard about this, but it's pretty cool!

[brilliant206pilot]

that s awesome