Vince Socci’s Post

An interesting discussion on the downwash and outwash impacts of VTOL aircraft.

View profile for Richard Brown PhD, CEng FIMechE FRAeS

Experienced aerodynamicist at Sophrodyne Aerospace.

Several folk on LinkedIn have recently used the data in the recently-published FAA report DOT/FAA/TC-24/42 “eVTOL Downwash and Outwash Surveys” to suggest that the effect of eVTOL aircraft on their surroundings could be as damaging as that shown in the video below - showing the mayhem caused on the ground by a low-flying V-22 Osprey. While the velocities quoted in the FAA report are indeed distressing (albeit in line with the predictions contained in the UK CAA’s CAP 2576 published in 2023), the comparison with V-22 velocities must be approached with considerable care so as not to overstate the risks that might be posed by the downwash and outwash that is likely to be produced by eVTOL aircraft. In the comments below, I try to present the salient facts in some sort of logical fashion. We need to be very careful that we are comparing like with like in order to end up with a fair assessment of the relative risks.

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