SIKORSKY HELICOPTER FLIGHT THEORY FOR PILOTS AND MECHANICS BY JOHN R. MONTGOMERY @sikorsky Aircroft, Division of United Technologies, U.S.A. 1964. All rights reserved. UNITED an TOAij REPRODUCED AT GOVERNM! TROT I TSE PREFACE This text was written for use in the training programs of the Sikorsky Service School. Maintenance personnel, pilots, and the interested layman will find this material helpful in understanding the basic principles which apply 40 the fully articulated rotor system used in Sikorsky beli- copters. It is not intended for the engineer or aerodyna- micyst. Explanations given are simplified and are not in any sense offered as Sikorsky criteria, design or other- wise. The author is indebted to Sikorsky Aircraft's Engineer- ing Manager, Mr. Ralph Lightfoot, for knowledge imparted through the years and for bis efforts in editing this publi- cation for technical accuracy, John R. Montgomery Supervisor June 1964 Stkorsky Service School Reeyf REPRODUCED AT GOVERNM: INTRODUCTION In the days before the widespread use of the helicopter, it was relatively unimportant that the average aircraft mechanic possess a detailed knowl- edge of flight theory. While the technical education of maintenance personnel generally included a course on the subject, it was generally conceded to be information of the “nice to know” variety, but not man- datory for the successful performance of aircraft maintenance. The advent of the helicopter produced, among other things, the neces- sity for the mechanic, as well as the pilot, to fully understand the aircraft being flown and maintained. For the pilot the requirement was definitely in the line of duty, The value of a knowledge of fight theory was recog- nized in the general helicopter maintenance field because of the following factors: SUPPORT AND PROPULSION ‘While there are structural and aerodynamic relationships between the propulsion and support systems of the conventional, fixed-wing aircraft, the helicopter closes the gap coinpletely. The propulsion system is also the support system and the complexities inherent in each are compounded because of the integration. To further emphasize the system interdepend- ance, it need only be remembered that the propulsion-support system is also the means by which the control of the helicopter is accomplished. TROUBLESHOOTING Keeping in that the rotor blades of our propulsion-support sys- tem are hinged at their roots and have movement about three axes; that large, dynamic systems are subject to many vibrations, stresses, and mo- ments; that the great centrifugal loadings involved will tend to magnify seemingly small errors in calibration, torques, adjustments, and other si lar processes, it is reasonable to assume that adequate trouble-shooting would require more than a little knowledge of the systems involved. AUTOMATIC FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS ‘The introduction of automatic flight control systems to helicopters has certainly enhanced their utilization, especially in the area of all-weather flight. Because of the high degree of systems integration, personnel charged with the responsibility of maintaining the automatic flight control system must be thoroughly familiar with the helicopter’s control, hydraulic, and electrical systems, as well as the circuitry of the electronic components. It follows that for a complete system understanding, a knowledge of helicopter flight theory is mandatory in order that the aerodynamic loops may be fully understood.