During forward flight, the rotor blade advancing in a counterclockwise-rotating rotor as seen from above is located in which half of the rotor disk?

During forward flight, the rotor blade advancing in a counterclockwise-rotating rotor as seen from above is located in which half of the rotor disk?

• A. Retreating Blade
• B. Advancing Blade
• C. Airfoil
• D. Angle of Attack

Answer: (B)

In forward flight, the rotor disk is divided into two halves: the advancing half and the retreating half. The advancing blade is the one moving in the same direction as the helicopter’s travel, so it resides on the half of the disk toward the nose. For a counterclockwise-rotating rotor seen from above, that advancing side is the half facing forward, where the blade’s motion adds to the forward speed of the aircraft. The retreating half is on the opposite side. Airfoil and angle of attack describe blade shape and pitch, not which half of the disk a blade is in.

In forward flight, the rotor disk is divided into two halves: the advancing half and the retreating half. The advancing blade is the one moving in the same direction as the helicopter’s travel, so it resides on the half of the disk toward the nose. For a counterclockwise-rotating rotor seen from above, that advancing side is the half facing forward, where the blade’s motion adds to the forward speed of the aircraft. The retreating half is on the opposite side. Airfoil and angle of attack describe blade shape and pitch, not which half of the disk a blade is in.