PDA

View Full Version : Rotorcraft pedals control question


rascalsailor
26th Nov 2012, 06:31
Hi all
(forgive my ignorance)
I recently discovered a flight simulator (helisim) which I have enjoyed using. My question is regarding the effect of the pedals (anti-torque).

I always thought that if, for example, a helicopter was flying say North, that applying left pedal say, would cause both a heading change as well as a direction (course) change to the left. (i.e as though a giant hand had turned the whole arrangement including the cyclic pitch to now move forwards on a new heading to the left (west) of the old heading).
What I noticed is that the helicopter continues North according to the original cyclic pitch, but is now yawing (slipping) right.
Does this make sense?
ta
Russell

John Farley
29th Nov 2012, 14:30
If a helicopter has significant forward speed a left rudder input will make the nose move a lttle to the left but the helicopter will not carry out a turn (change its track direction over the ground) to the left. Just the same as a fixed wing aircraft.

In the hover a lft rudder input will cause a helicopter nose to move left and keep moving to the left.