Which rotor blade action involves changing blade pitch?

Prepare for the Theory of Rotary Wing Flight Test. Sharpen your skills with flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each. Ace your exam with confidence!

Multiple Choice

Which rotor blade action involves changing blade pitch?

Explanation:
Feathering is changing the blade pitch. The pitch of a rotor blade is its angle relative to the oncoming air, and adjusting that angle controls lift and thrust without changing how fast the rotor spins. The mechanism that does this—via the swashplate and pitch links—sets the blade to a new angle. This is distinct from rotation (the blade spinning about the hub), flapping (the blade’s up-and-down movement as it shares lift through the rotor disk), and hunting (oscillations of rotor speed due to dynamic system response).

Feathering is changing the blade pitch. The pitch of a rotor blade is its angle relative to the oncoming air, and adjusting that angle controls lift and thrust without changing how fast the rotor spins. The mechanism that does this—via the swashplate and pitch links—sets the blade to a new angle. This is distinct from rotation (the blade spinning about the hub), flapping (the blade’s up-and-down movement as it shares lift through the rotor disk), and hunting (oscillations of rotor speed due to dynamic system response).

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