Which term is defined as the total helicopter weight divided by the rotor disk area?

Which term is defined as the total helicopter weight divided by the rotor disk area?

• A. Disk Area
• B. Disk Loading
• C. Drag
• D. Feedback

Answer: (B)

Disk loading is the quantity defined as the total helicopter weight divided by the rotor disk area. It tells you how much weight the rotor must support per square unit of rotor disk. Lower disk loading (larger rotor area for the same weight) generally improves hover efficiency and reduces the power required, because the rotor can accelerate more air with less induced velocity. Higher disk loading means the rotor has to push air more aggressively to generate the same lift, increasing induced power and downwash and making hover more demanding. The other terms don’t describe weight per area: disk area is just the rotor’s area, drag is a resisting force, and feedback is a control concept.

Disk loading is the quantity defined as the total helicopter weight divided by the rotor disk area. It tells you how much weight the rotor must support per square unit of rotor disk. Lower disk loading (larger rotor area for the same weight) generally improves hover efficiency and reduces the power required, because the rotor can accelerate more air with less induced velocity. Higher disk loading means the rotor has to push air more aggressively to generate the same lift, increasing induced power and downwash and making hover more demanding. The other terms don’t describe weight per area: disk area is just the rotor’s area, drag is a resisting force, and feedback is a control concept.