Talking of the MIT (Lu mentioned it), here's what their helicopter page has to say on the subject of precession:
Gyroscopic precession is a phenomenon occurring in rotating bodies in which an applied force is manifested 90 degrees later in the direction of rotation from where the force was applied. Although precession is not a dominant force in rotary-wing aerodynamics, it must be reckoned with because turning rotor systems exhibit some of the characteristics of a gyro.
Just to put the cat amongs the pidgeons! (no pun intended).
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Another day in paradise