Originally Posted By: Michael_P
I really know nothing about helicopters. But I would imagine when the helicopter is upside down it would want to propel rapidly to the ground and you would have to move fast for such a maneuver. I could see how rapidly it descends when upside down. Scary but good stuff. Thanks for sharing.
Actually - when it's moving forward, the rotor blades aren't that different from a wing, so, it doesn't get propelled more rapidly to the ground than a winged airplane that is upside down. The pilot reduces collective to reduce lift (similar to reducing AOA) or keeps the collective in and pulls back on the cyclic to pitch the machine.
The real limiting factor on a helicopter is the rotor head itself: the strain of multiple G or negative G is simply too much for that complex set of bearings...that's why you don't see helicopters doing stunts...the G load is too much on that single component...