How would a hot day in Denver, Colorado affect the hover ceiling?
A hot day in Denver, Colorado would significantly decrease the hover ceiling due to the combined effects of high temperature and high altitude on air density. Denver is already at a relatively high altitude, which means the air is less dense compared to locations at sea level. High temperatures further decrease air density. The combination of high altitude and high temperature results in a high density altitude. As the density altitude increases, the air becomes thinner, and the helicopter's rotor blades have to work harder to generate the same amount of lift. This means the engine must produce more power to maintain a hover. On a hot day in Denver, the density altitude can become so high that the helicopter may not be able to generate enough lift to hover at all, even with maximum engine power, resulting in a significantly reduced hover ceiling.