To: RobboRider
Even in gusts in doesn't deviate much and it comes back in line immediately.
First of all what I said was in complete agreement with the above quote. The point I was trying to make has to do with a 72-degree phase angle on the Robinson. If it is in fact 72-degrees then the blade must respond to the maximum pitch input in order to get the maximum blade flap. If this is true then the blade must deviate from the tip path from a point 18-degrees ahead of the lateral axis in order to dip down over the nose with the opposite being true for the retreating blade.
It is for this reason that I presented my theory that the blade in fact would dip down 18-degrees to the left of the longitudinal axis (90-degree phase angle). And that in the process of correcting for inflow roll, transverse flow effect and dissymmetry of lift the pilot is moving the cyclic all over the place. And when everything settles down and the helicopter is flying straight the cyclic should be somewhere to the right of the rigged neutral position. To support my theory I have stated that if the cyclic is to the right of the rigged neutral position it may be there for several reasons including compensation for the 18-degree offset. Many of the respondents to my theory will state that this is to compensate for phase angle shift and completely discount the compensation for the offset. If I understand phase angle shift it will be some number of degrees less than the 90-degree phase angle built into the helicopter. If this is the case then the cyclic should be to the left of the rigged neutral position in order to compensate for the phase shift from 90-degrees which would cause the helicopter to fly to the right.
The design guidelines allow for several degrees of cross coupling so it is normal for all helicopters to experience this shift and it is acceptable in the certification process. Getting back to your statement relative to blade tracking I totally agree with you.
