• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Flight Mechanic

Aircraft Mechanic School Study Supplement for Future Aviation Maintenance Technicians




  • Home
  • AMT Training
    • Basic Aviation Maintenance
    • Airframes
    • Powerplants
  • AMT Schools
  • AMT Books
  • Tip Jar
You are here: Home / Basic Aviation Maintenance / Physics / Helicopters in Flight – Blade Flapping

Helicopters in Flight – Blade Flapping

Filed Under: Physics

To solve the problem of dissymmetry of lift, helicopter designers came up with a hinged design that allows the rotor blade to flap up when it experiences increased lift, and to flap down when it experiences decreased lift. When a rotor blade advances toward the front of the helicopter and experiences an increased velocity of airflow, the increase in lift causes the blade to flap up. This upward motion of the blade changes the direction of the relative wind in relation to the chord line of the blade, and causes the angle of attack to decrease. The decrease in the angle of attack decreases the lift on the blade. The retreating blade experiences a reduced velocity of airflow and reduced lift, and flaps down. By flapping down, the retreating blade ends up with an increased angle of attack and an increase in lift. The end result is the lift on the blades is equalized, and the tendency for the helicopter to roll never materializes.

The semi-rigid and fully articulated rotor systems have flapping hinges that automatically allow the blades to move up or down with changes in lift. The rigid type of rotor system has blades that are flexible enough to bend up or down with changes in lift.

Flight Mechanic Recommends

Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook -Flight Literacy recommends Rod Machado's products because he takes what is normally dry and tedious and transforms it with his characteristic humor, helping to keep you engaged and to retain the information longer. (see all of Rod Machado's Products).
   
-->

Primary Sidebar

SEARCH FLIGHT MECHANIC

SEARCH FLIGHT MECHANIC

Aircraft Mechanic Training

Basic Aviation Maintenance

Powerplants

Airframes

Popular Posts

Aircraft Mechanic Salary

Aircraft Mechanic Schools

Aircraft Mechanic Requirements

Aircraft Flight Training

Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Easy Campfire Recipes | Recipe Workbook



Copyright © 2022 Flight-Mechanic.com