What are the two main categories of rotary-wing aircraft?

The main types include the helicopter with powered rotors providing both lift and thrust, and the autogyro with unpowered rotors providing lift only.

Which is a characteristic of a rotary-wing aircraft?

A rotorcraft or rotary-wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air aircraft with rotary wings or rotor blades, which generate lift by rotating around a vertical mast. Several rotor blades mounted on a single mast are referred to as a rotor.

What are the rotor configurations?

The most common configuration is the combination of one main rotor and one tail rotor. The tail rotor compensates for the torque that is produced by the main rotor. The tail rotor also controls the helicopter along the vertical axis during hover flight. The arrangement of two rotors side by side was never very popular.

What is the difference between rotary-wing and fixed-wing?

Rotary-wing aircraft are those that are powered by rotating blades, such as helicopters. Fixed-wing aircraft include those that are propeller driven or jet engine powered, and have wings that do not move.

What is a rotary wing pilot?

U.S. Army rotary wing aviators are warrant officers who are trained to fly military helicopters. Rotary wing aviation is one of only four special tasks within the Army that are open to applicants between the ages of 18 and 33 who do not have specific prior expertise, training or experience.

How lift is created with a rotary wing?

That shape makes air flow over the top faster than under the bottom. As a result, there is less air pressure on top of the wing; this causes suction and makes the wing move up. A helicopter’s rotor blades are wings and create lift. An airplane must fly fast to move enough air over its wings to provide lift.

How does a rotary wing work?

Unlike airplanes, helicopters feature spinning wings called blades or rotors on top. As a helicopter’s blades spin, they create a force called lift that allows the helicopter to rise into the air. A helicopter’s rotors perform the same function as an airplane’s wings.

What are the types of main rotors?

Main rotor systems are classified according to how the main rotor blades are attached and move relative to the main rotor hub. There are three basic classifications: semirigid, rigid, or fully articulated. Some modern rotor systems, such as the bearingless rotor system, use an engineered combination of these types.

Are helicopters fixed wing?

In forward flight a helicopter’s flight controls behave more like those of a fixed-wing aircraft. Displacing the cyclic forward will cause the nose to pitch down, with a resultant increase in airspeed and loss of altitude.

Which is harder to fly a plane or helicopter?

Since helicopters are generally harder to fly than airplanes, they also are more dangerous to fly. Overall, helicopter crashes are more frequent than airplanes, as well. Helicopters crash about 35 percent more often per hour in the air than your average aircraft.

How is the wing configuration of an aircraft determined?

The wing configuration of a fixed-wing aircraft (including both gliders and powered aeroplanes) is its arrangement of lifting and related surfaces. Aircraft designs are often classified by their wing configuration.

How does a helicopter work as a fixed wing?

Some rotary wing aircraft are designed to stop the rotor for forward flight so that it then acts as a fixed wing. For vertical flight and hovering it spins to act as a rotary wing or rotor, and for forward flight at speed it stops to act as a fixed wing providing some or all of the lift required.

What’s the difference between multi rotor and fixed wing?

With a multi-rotor session you’re generally done with the job when the flight is over, you only need to hand over the imagery. With fixed-wing work the flight is just the beginning, you’ve captured the images but it isn’t yet the data the clients are looking for.

Which is an example of a rotorcraft aircraft?

An AS332 helicopter from the Hong Kong Government Flying Service conducts a water bomb demonstration A rotorcraft or rotary-wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air aircraft with rotary wings or rotor blades, which generate lift by rotating around a vertical mast. Several rotor blades mounted on a single mast are referred to as a rotor.