Which statement describes blade twist?

• A. It concentrates lift near the root
• B. It distributes lifting force more evenly along the blade
• C. It reduces drag at the tip only
• D. It increases rotor RPM

Answer: (B)

Blade twist is an intentional variation of the blade’s pitch along its span, built to account for the fact that different parts of the blade see different relative wind speeds as the rotor turns. Sections near the tip move faster than those near the hub, so if the pitch were the same from root to tip, the outer portions would generate much more lift and can approach stall, while the inner portions would underperform. By twisting the blade so the angle of attack is reduced toward the tip (and adjusted along the whole span), the lift produced is more evenly distributed along the blade. This smooths loads, reduces peak bending moments, and improves efficiency and controllability. It doesn’t change rotor RPM, and lift is not exclusively reduced at the tip or concentrated at the root—the twist aims for a balanced lift distribution along the entire blade.