Dr.

Ilkay Yavrucuk
Spring 2011
AE 584 Helicopter Stability and Control
Exercise for Midterm #1

Note: Do not memorize these questions. They are provided only to give you an idea on the types
of questions you will encounter in the exam. The exam questions will definitely be different. You
should be able to answer the questions below without any books or notes.

1. Plot the vehicle carried frame, wind frame on a helicopter sketch. Define Euler Angles and
angle of attack, sideslip angle.

2. What is the difference between an articulated rotor system and a teetering rotor system?

3. Explain the disadvantages of an articulated rotor system.

4. What is the Lock number? What is its significants?

4. Consider the flapping equation of a helicopter rotor with hinge off-set in forward flight (I
would provide the equation in the exam). Identify the source of each term. What would the
equation look like if there was no hinge –offset? What would the equation look like if there was
an additional hub spring (explain the purpose of a hub-spring).What would be the natural freq. of
the flapping motion with and without the hinge? What is the phase angle between pitch input and
flap output when there is no hinge off-set. Will the phase angle be different when there is a hinge
off-set?

5. A helicopter rotor blade, which is hinged at its root, is spinning at a constant angular speed of
Ω. The blade can also flap. Obtain the acceleration of the blade tip w.r.t the body frame. Note: β
can vary with time. If the only moment acting on the blade is the aerodynamic pitching moment
(MA) try to write the equations of motion for the blade.