Figure 3-1 - P-4010033

HELICOPTER AERODYNAMICS WORKBOOK

CHAPTER 3

POWER REQUIRED

Now, we've discussed how rotor blades and rotor systems work, let's investigate how they

work with a helicopter fuselage and all of the forces that come into play. For a helicopter to

remain in steady, level flight, these forces and moments must balance. These forces (figure 3-1)

exist in the vertical plane, horizontal plane, and about the center of gravity in the form of

pitching moments.

Figure 3-1

To begin the discussion of these forces, we will discuss the power required which produces

these forces (figure 3-2).

Figure 3-2

HELICOPTER POWERED FLIGHT ANALYSIS 3-3