Rotary Wing Geek

Category: Helicopter Design

  • My tail rotor pitches when it flaps! Why?

    My tail rotor pitches when it flaps! Why?

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    This is one for the helicopter pilots and engineers in my network. I thought I knew why the tail rotor blades pitched when they flapped and what delta 3 hinges were all about on helicopters. Right up to the point I stopped to look carefully at the tail rotor on the Bell 429 I currently…

  • EC135, Checklists and the “Red Button of Doom”

    EC135, Checklists and the “Red Button of Doom”

    Introduction The EC135 SAS DCPL or SAS/AP CUT button is a red semi-guarded button on the head of the cyclic used to disengage all elements of the autopilot and stabilisation system simultaneously. Pressing the button usually gives fairly benign results when flying visually but if it is pressed in fully coupled instrument flight, it can…