WHAT IS IT ABOUT HELICOPTERS?
I watched one take off after AirVenture and was captivated by the
smoothness of it. And I have to admit, I’ve always loved the sound
of rotor blades chop, chop, chopping through the air.
A dual tachometer indicates the engine rpm and main
rotor rpm. In normal flight the needles join together and
act as one.
The main rotor is mounted on a vertical mast above the
helicopter. The pilot controls the altitude, speed, and direction
of the helicopter by using the flight controls to vary the pitch
of the main rotor blades.
The tail rotor (or antitorque rotor) is controlled by the
antitorque pedals and counters the torque created by the
main rotor. This prevents the helicopter’s fuselage from
spinning opposite the direction of main rotor rotation.
