When maneuvering in the air, the helicopter moves around the Three Axes of Flight which all act through the helicopter’s center of gravity (CG):
- Longitudinal Axis (Roll or Bank)
- Lateral Axis (Pitch)
- Vertical Axis (Yaw)
Video
The video below explains the Three Axes of Flight, as demonstrated in a Robinson R22 helicopter:
Resources
- FAA Helicopter Flying Handbook Chapter 2 – Aerodynamics of Flight
- FAA Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Chapter 5 – Aerodynamics of Flight
Related Videos
Airfoils
An airfoil is any surface that produces a useful aerodynamic force. Here are some examples of uses of those aerodynamic forces: Lift
Negative Lift
Stability
Thrust
Control
When talking about airfoils it is important to know the technical ...
Helicopter Torque
A basic rule of Newtonian physics is that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction . So when you have the action of the rotation of the main rotor blades of a helicopter - the reaction will cause the body of the helicopter to move in...
