Which term describes the process of aligning rotor blades so they rotate on a common plane?

Which term describes the process of aligning rotor blades so they rotate on a common plane?

• A. Blade Tracking
• B. Blade Flap
• C. Blade Root
• D. Blade Tip

Answer: (A)

Blade tracking is the process of ensuring all rotor blades rotate in the same plane so their tips trace the same circular path as the rotor turns. When blades are tracked correctly, the rotor operates smoothly with less vibration and uneven loading. This is checked with a tracking tool or a strobe method to see if any blade sits out of the common plane, and then the blade’s position at the hub is adjusted—typically by changing shims or other alignment hardware—until the tips line up. The other terms describe different blade aspects: flap is the blade’s up-and-down motion caused by aerodynamic forces, the root is the attachment point to the hub, and the tip is simply the outer end of the blade.

Blade tracking is the process of ensuring all rotor blades rotate in the same plane so their tips trace the same circular path as the rotor turns. When blades are tracked correctly, the rotor operates smoothly with less vibration and uneven loading. This is checked with a tracking tool or a strobe method to see if any blade sits out of the common plane, and then the blade’s position at the hub is adjusted—typically by changing shims or other alignment hardware—until the tips line up. The other terms describe different blade aspects: flap is the blade’s up-and-down motion caused by aerodynamic forces, the root is the attachment point to the hub, and the tip is simply the outer end of the blade.