PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - powered control vs fixed wing passive control
Old 6th January 2007 | 19:06
  #1 (permalink)  
slowrotor
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
From: Port Townsend,WA. USA
powered control vs fixed wing passive control

Helicopters have what I call "powered controls", meaning the control surfaces are powered by the engine, giving the helicopter full control at low speed.
Airplanes have movable controls (elevator, rudder and aileron) that only function above a certain forward speed. Airplanes, when landing, need to increase the approach speed in strong turbulence to avoid a loss of control.

Is it acceptable for helicopters to reduce the approach speed in strong turbulence because of the "powered control"?

If the answer is yes, this would be a sustantial advantage for helicopters, but I have not seen this idea stated in any of my helicopter books. Is this well known?
slowrotor is offline  
Reply