Principles of Flight

1. Principles of Flight Chapter 6 – Helicopters

2. Introduction • A helicopter generates both lift and thrust by using its rotor blades rather than wings. • Blades are just wings which spin round on a central axis.

3. Lift • To generate more lift the blades must be pitched to increase the angle of attack. • Pilots control known as the Collective pitch control.

4. Horizontal Flight • The thrust is provided by tilting the disc in the direction required • Pilots control called cyclic pitch control or stick.

5. Horizontal Flight • The thrust is provided by tilting the disc in the direction required • Pilots control called cyclic pitch control or stick.

6. Horizontal Flight • The thrust is provided by tilting the disc in the direction required • Pilots control called cyclic pitch control or stick.

7. Horizontal Flight • The thrust is provided by tilting the disc in the direction required • Pilots control called cyclic pitch control or stick.

8. Torque Reaction • Is the force that tries to make the fuselage spin in the same direction as the blades. • Counteracted by using a tail rotor to push the fuselage in the opposite direction. • By altering the pitch of the tail rotor blades it can yaw the aircraft. • Helicopters with 2 blades – each rotor spins in different directions.

9. Torque Reaction

10. Torque Reaction

11. Controls • 4 Controls • Collective Pitch – On left hand side, pulls up to increase lift and vice versa. • Hand Throttle – On the collective pitch stick, twists to give more power to rotor. • Cyclic Pitch – Stick between legs, left to go left, forward to go forward etc. • Tail Rotor - Feet Pedals, Right to yaw right and vice versa.