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Comment by playworker | Hacker News Reader

A good piece on F1 helicopter piloting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOpMPBxZYZc

Interesting. The pilot makes some really close passes over the track, doesn't the downwash interfere with the cars' aerodynamics? F1 performance depends on it quite a lot, and the downwash from a heli can be really powerful.

If it made any difference whatsoever, the Drivers would complain and whine about it relentlessly - so no. They either plan it well, or the wash is negligible

>If it made any difference whatsoever, the Drivers would complain and whine about it relentlessly

While that's a pretty accurate characterisation of pretty much every single pilot that has ever driven in F1, I wonder if they have clauses in the contract saying that they cannot publicly criticise the FIA/F1 organisers about stuff like that.

Maybe it’s part of the sport and averages out? I bet they don’t get ti complain about the weight of cameras on board either.

Organizers get to make the rules. If heliwash means more spectators, then so be it as long as it doesn’t impede safety.

Actually, they do get to complain about the weight of cameras on board. Back in the 90’s, before there was a camera on every car, they put dummy cameras of the same size and weight on every car that didn’t have a real camera on it, so there was no weight or aero advantage either way.

I did not know that. That’s neat.

Guess the point I was trying to make is that as long as everyone experiences the same disadvantage on average, then it’s okay because this is a spectator sport not a “Lets make the fastest lap times” kind of thing.

Cameras are pretty light now but I’m sure you could make a case that cars would be faster/better without them.

The weight of the cameras doesn't really make a difference, because everyone has to carry them and so nobody is put at a disadvantage. What does matter is the aerodynamics of the camera pods - the rules give manufacturers some degree of latitude with regards to the design and placement of the outboard camera pods, so they can be manipulated to provide a tiny aerodynamic advantage.

Downwash might be beneficial for F1 cars, because it would put more weight on the tires.

It doesn't work like that. The effect of the downwash would be minimal in terms of added weight on the tires. But it would seriously disrupt the "clean" air that the car wings need to generate maximum down-force.

How does one car ever pass another in f1 if they need clean air?

They need clean air in mid to high speed corners (where donw-force is of the essence to keep the speed). In fact one of the current problems that makes F1 boring (as in less overtakes) is that cars cannot follow each other closely for extended periods.

If a car follows another closely for 3 or 4 laps, the tires start suffering from overheating (due to the reduction in down-force caused by the disturbed air the tires have less downward pressure and grip making them slide more). After 3 to 4 laps following closely, the chasing car is forced to slow down to cool the tires and avoid damaging them.

I don't care much for planes but damn helicopters are cool.

There's something about being able to have that precision, getting close to the ground while maintaining velocity which is mind boggling.

And another https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGtQZWhKWoI

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