Demystifying a Helicopter's Flight

Many of us may have noticed pilots flying helicopters in movies, some of us may have experienced it for real. So how to fly an helicopter? What are the controls it has got? And how does it work?

Video Credits: shidifu111

There are four types of helicopter controls. 

1) Cyclic control 

2) Collective control 

3) Anti –torque pedals control 

4) Throttle control.  

Lets look about the controls in detail...

Cyclic Control

Cyclic controls helps to control a helicopter directionally. i.e. to move forward, rearward, sideways or roll. This happens by varying the lift in different portions of rotor. Such as to move forward the lift in back side of the rotor disc is increased. The angle of attack is varied for each blade individually.

Collective Control

This is used to move the helicopter up and down. i.e. to control altitude of helicopter. As the angle of attack variation is same in all blades it is called collective control. A mechanism called swash plate assists this kind of control.

Anti – torque pedals control

This controls yaw of helicopter. This is done by varying the AOA of the tail rotor. Do you know, tail rotor is the one that keeps helicopter from spinning.

Video Credits: Learn Engineering

Learn Engineering

Throttle control

This decides the power level of engine. Varying throttle is similar to the accelerator in bike. Knowing these things doesn’t mean you can |y a helicopter. You need to have a pilot license before you attempt to do so, or atleast enrolled for one.