SIFT Army Aviation Information Practice Test

In straight and level flight, which control is primarily used to increase airspeed?

1. Cyclic pitch control

2. Collective control

3. Anti-torque pedals

4. Yaw control

The correct answer is: Cyclic pitch control

In straight and level flight, the cyclic pitch control is primarily used to increase airspeed because it directly influences the tilt of the rotor blades and, consequently, the forward thrust generated by the rotor system. By adjusting the cyclic pitch forward, the rotor blades experience a change in angle of attack, allowing the aircraft to move forward and increase its velocity. This action directs the helicopter's lift vector slightly forward, changing its flight path and resulting in an increase in airspeed without altering altitude. The other controls, such as collective control, primarily affect altitude and overall lift rather than specifically managing airspeed. The collective changes the pitch angle of all rotor blades simultaneously, which increases or decreases lift but doesn't directly correlate with forward speed changes like cyclic control does. Anti-torque pedals are responsible for controlling the helicopter's yaw, maintaining stable flight orientation, and counteracting the rotational torque generated by the main rotor, but they do not influence the forward airspeed directly. Yaw control, while essential for directional flight control, similarly does not contribute to increasing airspeed in straight and level flight.