Cyclic Helicopter flight controls

eurocopter

the cyclic control, commonly called cyclic stick or cyclic, similar in appearance on helicopters joystick conventional aircraft. located between pilot s legs, on helicopters, such robinson r22, central pillar either pilot can manipulate.

the control called cyclic because changes pitch angle of rotor blades cyclically. is, pitch, or feathering angle, of rotor blades changes depending upon position rotate around hub, blades have same incidence @ same point in cycle. change in cyclic pitch has effect of changing angle of attack, , lift generated single blade moves around rotor disk. in turn causes blades fly or down in sequence, depending on changes in lift affecting each individual blade.

robinson r22 flight controls

the result tilt rotor disk in particular direction, resulting in helicopter moving in direction. if pilot pushes cyclic forward, rotor disk tilts forward, , rotor produces thrust vector in forward direction. if pilot pushes cyclic right, rotor disk tilts right , produces thrust in direction, causing helicopter move sideways in hover or roll right turn during forward flight, in fixed wing aircraft.

any rotor system has delay between point in rotation controls introduce change in pitch , point desired change in rotor blade s flight occurs. difference caused phase lag, confused gyroscopic precession. rotor oscillatory system obeys laws govern vibration—which, depending on rotor system, may resemble behaviour of gyroscope.