Cyclic in Flight

Purpose

To introduce the effect of cyclic inputs on the aircraft.

Description

  • Allow student to experiement with fore/aft and left/right cyclic inputs on the aircraft’s attitude
  • Correlate cyclic inputs with the need for collective and pedal inputs
  • Correlate the need for cyclic inputs with changes in collective setting

Instructional aids and pre-requisites

  • None specified

Content

  • Demonstrate the effect of fore and aft cyclic on aircraft pitch
  • Demonstrate the effect of left and right cyclic on aircraft bank
  • In straight and level flight (75 kias), pass control of the cyclic to the student
  • Allow student to observe the effect of fore and aft cyclic on visual references, altitude, and airspeed
  • Allow student to observe the effect of left and right cyclic on visual references during gentle banks
  • Allow student to observe and react to changes in aircraft pitch during collective setting changes

Common errors

  • None specified

Completion standards

  • Student will be able to use the cyclic to accelerate and decelerate the aircraft.
  • Student will be able to use the cyclic to bank the aircraft.

Teaching considerations

  • After flight, show student the coordinated movements needed during power changes: collective up, left pedal, cyclic forward/collective down, right pedal, cyclic aft
  • Use model helicopter to illustrate how changing airflow on horizontal stabilizer results in changes in pitch

Additional practice

  • None specified

Additional resources

  • None specified

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