Figure 2-12

CHAPTER 2

HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS WORKBOOK

center of mass is farther away, it will tend to lag (move slower). Geometric imbalance occurs

when rotor blade centers of mass are not equidistant from the center of rotation.

Figure 2-12

ROTOR SYSTEMS

Rotor blades generally work best as a team, the three combinations you are most likely to

encounter are the semi-rigid, fully articulated, and rigid rotor systems, all of which allow for

flapping and compensate for geometric imbalance. These systems allow for pilot control of the

rotor blades through use of the cyclic and collective controls (figure 2-13).

Figure 2-13

2-10 ROTOR BLADE AERODYNAMICS