SIFT Army Aviation Information Practice Test 2026 – All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

Increasing the throttle is the correct action that would increase the torque on a helicopter. Torque is directly related to the power output of the helicopter's engine. When the throttle is increased, more power is provided to the rotor system, which in turn increases the rotor's RPM (revolutions per minute). As the RPM increases, it produces a higher lift force; however, it also increases the opposing torque that the main rotor exerts on the helicopter.

In a helicopter, torque must be countered by the tail rotor to maintain directional control. Therefore, an increase in throttle translates to an increase in torque, resulting in a greater need for the tail rotor to compensate for this additional torque, affecting the aircraft's overall handling and flight dynamics.

The other actions do not have the same effect: decreasing pressure on the cyclic primarily affects pitch and roll and does not significantly impact torque; decreasing the collective reduces lift and power, which decreases the torque produced; and lowering airspeed can also reduce the rotor's effectiveness but does not directly increase torque.