Preflight Pass

Airframe · Lesson 26 of 40

Rotorcraft Fundamentals

How a helicopter makes and controls lift, the three rotor system types, swash plate and flight controls, transmissions, clutches and freewheeling units, rigging, vibration classes, blade tracking and the inspections Part 43 requires on rotorcraft.
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Part of A&P Complete

This lesson is in the full course

  • Compare fully articulated, semirigid and rigid rotor systems
  • Explain torque, gyroscopic precession, dissymmetry of lift and retreating blade stall
  • Describe how the swash plate, collective, cyclic, throttle and antitorque pedals move the blades
  • Calculate a transmission reduction ratio and the tail rotor thrust needed to balance torque
  • Classify helicopter vibrations and describe blade tracking, rigging and required inspections