User Guide

smaller and the whole helicopter tends to start rotating one way or the other. The yaw
pedals [see page 6.7 – Yaw Pedals] are used to counter this tendency.
Cyclic Stick:
The cyclic stick (commonly called ‘the cyclic’) is mounted centrally in front of the pilot’s seat,
with a pivot at the base which allows it to be tilted forward, backward and to either side. It
is normally held with the right hand, and spring-loaded to a more or less central, upright
position.
When you tilt the cyclic away from the upright position, each main rotor blade changes its
angle of attack as it moves around the hub. Over half the circle, the angle of attack is
greater than the level set by the collective, producing more lift, while over the other half it
is less, and less lift is generated. The maximum and minimum points are the same for all
blades, so the main rotor’s thrust is tilted in the same direction as the cyclic stick itself, the
helicopter itself tilts the same way, and starts to move over the ground in that same
direction.
Proper handling of the cyclic (especially at low speeds, or in the hover) demands a light
touch and intelligent anticipation or the helicopter will slide and wallow about in an
apparently endless series of overcorrections. A student pilot’s first attempts to hover on the
spot will usually have spectators gasping with laughter and alarm by turns – especially in
variable winds.
GROUND SCHOOL
6
Diagram 6.6: Main flying controls