How Helicopters Hover?
While helicopters are considered to be a type of aircraft, they are quite different in structure and operation as compared to the fixed-wing aircraft that most are familiar with. Similar in their ability to maintain heavier-than-air flight, one of the main features of helicopters is their ability to hover in place while midair. To make such capabilities a possibility, helicopters and their pilots take advantage of various control systems, structures, and parts that are present on the aircraft.
As helicopters widely differ from fixed-wing aircraft, pilots must be specifically trained on how to operate them before conducting flight operations. This is due to the varying control systems found in each aircraft type, and the vertical takeoff and landing capabilities of helicopters. In order to first initiate the process of hovering, the pilot will need to increase the collective to a degree that allows for the rotor disk to produce enough lift for takeoff. As the rotor blade pitch increases, the main rotor disk will start to slow down. From there, the pilot will need to increase the engine throttle, such controls either being tied directly into the collective lever or coming in the form of a twisting handgrip. Once the helicopter reaches an intended altitude, the collective may be reduced until lift matches the weight of the aircraft.
Due to the type of rotors that helicopters employ and their method of flight, torque will immediately begin to act against such an aircraft as soon as it leaves the ground. While the structures present on helicopters may vary based on their type, many employ tail rotors that counteract the torque generated by the engine and rotor blades. With such forces being controlled by rudder pedals within the cockpit, helicopters can avoid spinning out of control. To manage the directional heading of the helicopter, the pilot may adjust the depression of rudder pedals to yaw left or right.
Once the helicopter is at a desired altitude and yaw is being effectively managed, a pilot will then have to make adjustments for wind and aircraft design drift. As wind hits the aircraft fuselage or downwash from the rotor blades move across structures, maintaining a steady hover can become more difficult. As such, pilots must constantly make various adjustments which make such aircraft much more hands-on as compared to fixed-wing aircraft.
To make adjustments to counteract wind, the pilot will manage the cyclic control. With such controls, the rotor disk may be adjusted as required to both reduce vertical lift and achieve thrust in the direction of the deflection. With precise adjustments of thrust to counteract the force of wind, a pilot may maintain a motionless hover. Nevertheless, precisely executing such maneuvers can take a high degree of skill which pilots will gain over time with consistent practice and training.
Once the helicopter is correctly hovering with all external factors accounted for, the pilot may then conduct turns, flight paths, and other procedures with ease. With ample training, a pilot may even be able to execute backwards flying. If you find yourself in need of top quality helicopter parts for your operations, look no further than Aviation Axis.
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