![]() ![]() This is sometimes a problem for pilots transitioning to top tier, sophisticated helicopters where hands-off flying is the norm. Helicopter pilots are taught from day one not to take their hands off the controls (cyclic, collective and pedals). They are inherently unstable flying platforms. Place the airplane in the desired position/attitude, take your hands off the control column and it will fairly well stay there. Most fixed-wing aircraft are inherently stable. Both the rudder and tail rotor provide aircraft directional control and both are used in yaw damping and turn coordination. In comparing a rudder to a tail rotor, the tail rotor opposes main rotor torque. With the growing application of helicopter AFCS, a fundamental understanding of these systems is now required in order to maintain them in airworthy condition.įixed Wing Versus Helicopter Flight ControlĬomparing the functionality of wings versus rotor blades, we see that wings produce lift, while rotor blades produce lift, thrust and torque. Regardless of the acronym, most of these systems do pretty much the same things. As usual there are a number of acronyms such as AFCS, DFCS (digital flight control system), DFGS (digital flight guidance system). ![]() These advanced systems rival anything offered in the fixed-wing world. These systems might be simple, hands-on visual flight rules (VFR) systems or they might be highly sophisticated, combining stability augmentation, autopilot/yaw damper and flight director functions into an automatic flight control system capable of a hands-off mark-on-target approach to hover. In today’s market, a widening array of systems is available for many helicopters currently in production. Automatic flight control systems for helicopters have made these things possible. Since that time, vast improvements in basic helicopter design and avionics have occurred, making even single-pilot instrument flight rules (SPIFR) a reality while realizing major benefits, including greatly increased safety and expanded mission utilization of the helicopter. For all practical purposes, night flight and instrument flight were impossibilities. Even in the best of weather, in broad daylight, lacking either or both could be catastrophic. From its beginnings some 70 years ago, flying a helicopter required a high degree of skill and constant attention. Historically, flying a helicopter has always been a challenge. ![]()
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