SIFT Study Guide with Complete
Solutions
A helicopter is a type of...... - ANS-Rotorcraft
What are the three types of helicopters? - ANS-single main rotor helicopters, tandem
rotor helicopters, and coaxial rotor helicopters
What is the most common design for a helicopter? - ANS-single main rotor helicopter
What is a disadvantage of the single main rotor helicopter? - ANS-some power is used
for countering torque, instead of just lifting
What are some advantages of tandem rotor helicopters? - ANS-1. torque is
automatically countered since the blades rotate counter to each other, so power is used
solely for lifting
2. one of the most fastest and most powerful helicopters
How is a helicopter able to take off and land? - ANS-Vertically
what is an advantage of the coaxial rotor helicopters? - ANS-the two blades that are
mounted onto the same mast and rotate in opposite directions allow for greater
passenger and cargo load capacity
What can a helicopter do while it is in the air? - ANS-Hover, fly forward and backward,
and side to side (laterally).
Why can a helicopter do what it does in the air? - ANS-It is equipped with a source of
thrust by the main rotor
What does the engine of a helicopter do? - ANS-Produces power and sends it to the
overhead and tail rotors via transmission(s) and drive shafts.
Helicopter engines are either.... - ANS-Pistons or Turbines
What is the advantage a piston has over a turbine? - ANS-More thrust/pound.
What is the main body a helicopter called? - ANS-Fuselage
What is the shaft of a helicopter called? - ANS-Mast (protrudes from the top)
, What is a 'cowling'? - ANS-Shaped metal skin that covers the engine. (Some helicopters
are exposed)
What does the rotor head consist of? - ANS-Stabilizer Bar (flybar) and several other
components.
What does the main rotor involve? - ANS-Complex swashplate mechanical system.
(Translates pilots demands into blade movement)
Rotor system components include... - ANS-Upper and Lower Swashplates, Blade Grips,
Control Rods, Pitch and Scissor Links, Teeter or Coning Hinges, Pitch Horns,and
Counterweights
What is the flybar's function? - ANS-Enhance flight stability as the rotor spins and to
reduce crosswind thrust on the blades.
What is the horizontal stabilizer's function? - ANS-It helps to level the aircraft during
forward flight.
What does the tail boom contain? - ANS-Drive shaft for the tail rotor.
How does the overhead and tail rotors spin, respectively? - ANS-Overhead spins in
horizontal plane; tail spins in vertical plane.
What is the purpose of a 'ducted fan' helicopter? - ANS-Reduce the possibility of
somebody walking into a spinning rotor and being injured or killed.
What are flight instruments and controls? - ANS-Cyclic, Collective, Throttle and Pedals
What are avionics? - ANS-Electronics used for navigation, communications and aircraft
systems.
What are the four main aerodynamic forces that act on a helicopter when it is airborne?
- ANS-Weight, Lift, Thrust and Drag
What does everything on a helicopter have? - ANS-Weight.
Aerodynamic loads and turbulence affect what? - ANS-Aircraft Weight.
What is 'load factor'? - ANS-Force of Gravity; "G".
At 60 degrees bank how much does a helicopter weigh? - ANS-Twice as much as it
would flying level. (Point: Banking, turning, a helicopter forces the amount of "G" to
increase).
Solutions
A helicopter is a type of...... - ANS-Rotorcraft
What are the three types of helicopters? - ANS-single main rotor helicopters, tandem
rotor helicopters, and coaxial rotor helicopters
What is the most common design for a helicopter? - ANS-single main rotor helicopter
What is a disadvantage of the single main rotor helicopter? - ANS-some power is used
for countering torque, instead of just lifting
What are some advantages of tandem rotor helicopters? - ANS-1. torque is
automatically countered since the blades rotate counter to each other, so power is used
solely for lifting
2. one of the most fastest and most powerful helicopters
How is a helicopter able to take off and land? - ANS-Vertically
what is an advantage of the coaxial rotor helicopters? - ANS-the two blades that are
mounted onto the same mast and rotate in opposite directions allow for greater
passenger and cargo load capacity
What can a helicopter do while it is in the air? - ANS-Hover, fly forward and backward,
and side to side (laterally).
Why can a helicopter do what it does in the air? - ANS-It is equipped with a source of
thrust by the main rotor
What does the engine of a helicopter do? - ANS-Produces power and sends it to the
overhead and tail rotors via transmission(s) and drive shafts.
Helicopter engines are either.... - ANS-Pistons or Turbines
What is the advantage a piston has over a turbine? - ANS-More thrust/pound.
What is the main body a helicopter called? - ANS-Fuselage
What is the shaft of a helicopter called? - ANS-Mast (protrudes from the top)
, What is a 'cowling'? - ANS-Shaped metal skin that covers the engine. (Some helicopters
are exposed)
What does the rotor head consist of? - ANS-Stabilizer Bar (flybar) and several other
components.
What does the main rotor involve? - ANS-Complex swashplate mechanical system.
(Translates pilots demands into blade movement)
Rotor system components include... - ANS-Upper and Lower Swashplates, Blade Grips,
Control Rods, Pitch and Scissor Links, Teeter or Coning Hinges, Pitch Horns,and
Counterweights
What is the flybar's function? - ANS-Enhance flight stability as the rotor spins and to
reduce crosswind thrust on the blades.
What is the horizontal stabilizer's function? - ANS-It helps to level the aircraft during
forward flight.
What does the tail boom contain? - ANS-Drive shaft for the tail rotor.
How does the overhead and tail rotors spin, respectively? - ANS-Overhead spins in
horizontal plane; tail spins in vertical plane.
What is the purpose of a 'ducted fan' helicopter? - ANS-Reduce the possibility of
somebody walking into a spinning rotor and being injured or killed.
What are flight instruments and controls? - ANS-Cyclic, Collective, Throttle and Pedals
What are avionics? - ANS-Electronics used for navigation, communications and aircraft
systems.
What are the four main aerodynamic forces that act on a helicopter when it is airborne?
- ANS-Weight, Lift, Thrust and Drag
What does everything on a helicopter have? - ANS-Weight.
Aerodynamic loads and turbulence affect what? - ANS-Aircraft Weight.
What is 'load factor'? - ANS-Force of Gravity; "G".
At 60 degrees bank how much does a helicopter weigh? - ANS-Twice as much as it
would flying level. (Point: Banking, turning, a helicopter forces the amount of "G" to
increase).
