What term describes the blade located in the semicircular part of the rotor disk where the blade direction is opposite to the direction of flight?

What term describes the blade located in the semicircular part of the rotor disk where the blade direction is opposite to the direction of flight?

• A. Retreating Blade
• B. Advancing Blade
• C. Center Blade
• D. Outboard Blade

Answer: (A)

In forward flight, the rotor disk has one side where the blades are moving into the oncoming air and another side where the blades are moving with the air. The blade on the semicircular part that is moving opposite to the direction of flight is called the retreating blade. This blade encounters lower relative wind speed and tends to generate less lift than the opposite, advancing blade, which moves into the wind and creates more lift. This difference across the disk is why pilots must use cyclic pitch to balance lift and keep the rotor disk aligned. If not managed, the retreating blade can experience reduced lift and potential stall at high forward speeds, which is why the term retreating blade is the correct description.

In forward flight, the rotor disk has one side where the blades are moving into the oncoming air and another side where the blades are moving with the air. The blade on the semicircular part that is moving opposite to the direction of flight is called the retreating blade. This blade encounters lower relative wind speed and tends to generate less lift than the opposite, advancing blade, which moves into the wind and creates more lift. This difference across the disk is why pilots must use cyclic pitch to balance lift and keep the rotor disk aligned. If not managed, the retreating blade can experience reduced lift and potential stall at high forward speeds, which is why the term retreating blade is the correct description.