2. INTRODUCTION
A helicopter is an aircraft that is lifted and propelled by
one or more horizontal rotors, consisting of two or
more blades.
It is classified as a rotorcraft or rotary-wing aircraft
The word “helicopter” is from the French word
hélicoptère
It links the Greek words helix/helikos (spiral or turning)
and pteron (wing)
Helicopter Flying Handbook 2012

3. ROTOR SYSTEM
The rotor system is the rotating part of the helicopter that
generate lift
May be mounted horizontally, as the main rotor, providing
lift vertically
May be mounted vertically, tail rotor, to lift horizontally as
thrust to counteract torque effect
Helicopter Flying Handbook 2012

4. ROTOR SYSTEM
There is more than one type of rotor system along with the
number of rotor blades
One type of rotor is the tandem rotor helicopter
• An example of this is a Chinook
Another type of rotor is the intermeshing rotor helicopter
• An example of this is a Kaman
Our studies here involve the single rotor helicopter
• An example of this is a Robinson

5. MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM
Consists of a mast, hub, and rotor blades.
Mast- hollow cylindrical metal shaft that extends
upwards
Hub- at the top of the mast is the attachment point for
the rotor blades
Rotor blades- attached to the hub. There are 3 different
type of classifications
Semirigid
Rigid
Fully articulated
Helicopter Flying Handbook 2012

6. TAIL ROTOR
Is a smaller rotor mounted vertically or near-vertically on
the tail
It pushed or pulls against the tail to counteract the
torque
Helicopter Flying Handbook 2012

7. CONTROLLING FLIGHT
Four flight control inputs
 Cyclic
 Collective
 Antitorque pedals
 Throttle
Cyclic- typically located between the pilots legs and is called the
“cyclic stick” or “cyclic”. The Cyclic varies the pitch of the rotor
blades throughout each revolution. Tilting the cyclic in a
direction moves the helicopter in that direction. Pushing the
cyclic to one side the rotor disk tilts in that direction and the
helicopter moves in that direction.
Helicopter Flying Handbook 2012

8. CONTROLLING FLIGHT
Collective- collective pitch or Collective is located on the
left side on the pilot. The collective changes the pitch
angle of the main rotor blades. Collective input allows
all blades to change equally (collectively) increasing or
decreasing lift or thrust. This results in the helicopter
increasing or decreasing in altitude or airspeed.
Helicopter Flying Handbook 2012

9. CONTROLLING FLIGHT
Antitorque pedals- located in front of the pilots feet. The
pedals control the direction of the nose. The pedals
change the pitch of the tail rotor blades, increasing or
reducing thrust by the tail rotor causing the nose to yaw in
the direction of the applied pedal. They are to counteract
torque or lack there of from the engine.
Helicopter Flying Handbook 2012

10. CONTROLLING FLIGHT
Throttle- this controls the power produced by the engine.
This is located as a twist grip on the end of the
collective control. The throttle adjusts for engine
power to keep the rotor rpm maintainable and within
allowable limits when the engine is providing the
necessary power.
Helicopter Flying Handbook 2012