Which control moves the rotorcraft up and down by adjusting blade pitch?

Which control moves the rotorcraft up and down by adjusting blade pitch?

• A. Ailerons
• B. Rudder
• C. Collective
• D. Cyclic

Answer: (C)

Vertical movement in a rotorcraft comes from changing the lift produced by the main rotor. That’s done with the collective control, which changes the pitch of all rotor blades at once. Raising the collective increases blade pitch across the rotor, boosting lift and making the aircraft climb; lowering it decreases lift and makes it descend. Cyclic tilts the rotor disk to move forward, backward, or sideways, while ailerons and rudder control roll and yaw, respectively. So, adjusting blade pitch collectively is how you move up and down.

Vertical movement in a rotorcraft comes from changing the lift produced by the main rotor. That’s done with the collective control, which changes the pitch of all rotor blades at once. Raising the collective increases blade pitch across the rotor, boosting lift and making the aircraft climb; lowering it decreases lift and makes it descend. Cyclic tilts the rotor disk to move forward, backward, or sideways, while ailerons and rudder control roll and yaw, respectively. So, adjusting blade pitch collectively is how you move up and down.