What do the anti-torque pedals primarily control?

What do the anti-torque pedals primarily control?

• A. Pitch
• B. Roll
• C. Yaw
• D. Other

Answer: (C)

The anti-torque pedals are primarily designed to control yaw in a helicopter. When the helicopter’s main rotor spins, it generates a torque that tends to rotate the helicopter's body in the opposite direction of the rotor’s rotation. The anti-torque system, which includes the tail rotor and the anti-torque pedals, counteracts this torque to maintain stable flight. When the pilot presses on the anti-torque pedals, they adjust the pitch of the tail rotor blades, which in turn alters the thrust produced by the tail rotor. By increasing or decreasing this thrust, the pilot can control the yaw of the helicopter, turning it left or right around its vertical axis. This is crucial for maneuvering and can affect the helicopter’s ability to maintain a straight flight path, hover, or perform turns. Understanding this control mechanism is essential for pilots to effectively manage the helicopter's orientation and stability during flight. This highlights the importance of yaw control in achieving coordinated flight, particularly during takeoff, landing, and various in-flight maneuvers.

The anti-torque pedals are primarily designed to control yaw in a helicopter. When the helicopter’s main rotor spins, it generates a torque that tends to rotate the helicopter's body in the opposite direction of the rotor’s rotation. The anti-torque system, which includes the tail rotor and the anti-torque pedals, counteracts this torque to maintain stable flight.

When the pilot presses on the anti-torque pedals, they adjust the pitch of the tail rotor blades, which in turn alters the thrust produced by the tail rotor. By increasing or decreasing this thrust, the pilot can control the yaw of the helicopter, turning it left or right around its vertical axis. This is crucial for maneuvering and can affect the helicopter’s ability to maintain a straight flight path, hover, or perform turns.

Understanding this control mechanism is essential for pilots to effectively manage the helicopter's orientation and stability during flight. This highlights the importance of yaw control in achieving coordinated flight, particularly during takeoff, landing, and various in-flight maneuvers.