THE MAGIC SAUCE THAT MAKES A HELICOPTER WORK

I'm talking about the swashplates of the helicopter. The rotating and non rotating swash plates. These pass control inputs from the flight controls inside the helicopter all the way up to the rotor blade.
The rotor head I am using in this demonstration is from the French manufacturer Guimbal Helicopters. This is the Cabri G2 helicopter that I am using for this demonstration.
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[@m3photo726]

I remember the first day of helicopter school and the instructor started off by saying: “The helicopter is a complicated contraption that creates a helluva lot of noise and vibration and God only knows how it flies” What an introduction!

[@codmott286]

What I find most fascinating is that if you push the cyclic forward, not only does the blade angle change at the front but the rear blade changes opposite! This means that the rotor blades are constantly changing their pitch every single revolution, basically flapping up and down furiously. This is unlike any other lift mechanic whereby pitch is changed and held in a static position. The sheer stress and force that must be applied to keep this system from destroying itself is amazing.

[@yzScott]

Actually, when you push the cyclic forward (or aft) the cyclic pitch changes happen at the sides. Due to gyroscopic affects, the phasing of the cyclic is 90 degrees from that you would expect.

[@ArneChristianRosenfeldt]

So, use light, long, high aspect ratio blades m so that the oscillation does need less force. I have seen blades which are just tubes close to the head to minimise weight where lift is low anyway. So this force is pushing on the swash plate. It increases with cyclic and de-stabilises. Better have electronic control! I still want a large rotor had with the bearings 1 m out to minimise weight even further. Do you know this 3 blade rotor with the spring to keep the oscillation within the head? Not so great for electric where you might want to adapt RPM to load.

[@laz288]

No one talks and shows rotor heads up close. Great video!

[@stanstano6064]

Very true,

[@jamalruhani6109]

با سلام چرادوبله به زبانهای دیگر پخش نمیکنیداینهمه سخن های ناب ولی ما متوجه نمی شویم لطفا فکری به این وضعیت بکنید ممنون.

[@railcat]

@@jamalruhani6109 correct

[@Electroneer0]

thats so fkn true been lookin for dis for like 2 days haha

[@joecalobeer6396]

The 90 degree reaction of the rotor blades to the control input is because of precession! Any rotating object precesses. A gyroscope precession is commonly used for navigation because it’s predictable, and can be relied upon! Works pretty good on helicopters too!😊

[@jzk3919]

There is more than precession. There is Coriolis-effect, there are aeroelastic reaction times of a flexible airfoil (here: rotor), and inertia of rotating mass.

[@joecalobeer6396]

@@jzk3919 which is predictable!

[@JorgePPG]

The same thing happens with a rotor made with two cylindrical rods instead of blades. If you have a CCW rotor and "hit" it (while it is in rotation) from below at 9 (270°), will respond at (180°), this is the gyroscopic precession. The helicopter rotor is a huge gyroscope and involves a tale. p.s. I have experienced this thing

[@wernerschulte6245]

@@jzk3919 That´s right. Precession is a different phenomenon. It is based actually on the coriolis effect.

[@ArneChristianRosenfeldt]

So how would a coaxial helicopter feel? The old design which Kamov uses? Rigid head and I want three coaxial shafts! The center is fixed for the control lines ( electric) and then the outer shafts which are connected to planetary gears and axial loaded bearings. So upper rotor has swashplate on top. I think cyclic would be out of phase for them. I may even depend on the velocity of the helicopter. Forward flight needs high angle of attack on the way to the rear.

[@SmittySmithsonite]

That thing is an absolute marvel of engineering! Mind-bogglingly brilliant! Imagine the tens of thousands of painstaking man-hours that took to perfect that, back in the day. Inventors in those days were extremely brave souls! Igor Sikorsky was probably extremely quick to realize he needed a tail rotor, too, the first time he left the ground in one of these contraptions! 😂 3 years ago, I had never even seen a closeup of the swashplate before. The only swashplate I was familiar with was the one inside an automotive air conditioning compressor. This vid right here is the most detailed an explanation I've ever seen on this component. Thanks, Mischa! 👍🍻

[@fitter70]

I knew I heard that team before. Thanks.

[@acrobaticcripple8176]

I've been intrigued for years. Now I'm learning how. Brilliant young man.

[@lucaspicone9381]

Great video! Seeing the cuts to the cockpit with the cyclic and collective movements is an excellent visual aid

[@birdhouserocket]

A radio controlled helicopter would be a great tool to teach this concept. It’s amazing that the actual pitch on each individual rotor blade is changing throughout the 360 degree rotation allowing for a fixed main shaft. Love your channel and your footage. Great editing!!!!

[@thomasmaughan4798]

I purchased a Blade 450 RC helicopter for that exact reason, so i could study swash plate and this curious phenomenon of pushing on the side of the spinning rotor to make it tilt forward.

[@tCCZebra70]

Awesome explanation of the swashplate! Love the sound of that Fenestron tail rotor coming in at the end too.

[@beny874]

Simple, easy to follow, practical. Added to favourites. A great practical explanation of a main rotor. Cheers dude.

[@t.c.3027]

Excellent explanation of the swashplate operations! Thanks!

[@trumanhw]

VERY COOL! THANK YOU! For including actual mechanical demonstrations with the phrasing.

[@JustinHorrell]

Killer Video Mischa! By far one of the most fascinating components of a Helicopter. Especially on the Cabri. Thanks!

[@BoB4jjjjs]

An excellent video on how the rotor controls work. Excellent!

[@Channel-tr1hx]

there is literally no one else on the internet mentioning phase lag. great video

[@EVISEH]

Whilst the presenter is essentially correct about the mechanical and physics of a rotor head operation there is several errors that need correcting. Phase lag is more correctly precession. The Swash plate is a single component comprising a fixed lower part and a freely rotating upper part. There are not two separate swash plates. Furthermore, whilst the most common method in use, swash plates are not the only method used. Alternatives are the spider method which utilises a fixed control rod with an external spider at its upper end and which mounted inside the rotor drive shaft which is hollow.

[@theHDRflightdeck]

@@EVISEH Also he mentioned that with cyclic input the pitch of the blade changes 90 degrees later but that's actually incorrect. Pitch changes exactly where the swash plate is directing it but the force this creates is "felt" 90 degrees later.

[@ricrousseau9683]

I am a heli watcher and enthusiast and an rc heli pilot and this is The Best Explanation I have ever seen on the functions of the swashplate !!

[@vanenburgstraat]

I've been searching for videos like this for months now! Loving all these video's. Thanks for sharing!

[@officialWWM]

I know nothing about helicopters. I don't even know why I'm here but I found this facinating.

[@datdang9113]

I'm glad you did, helicopters are amazing

[@soflodoug]

@@datdang9113 I know nothing also but helicopters are many parts pulling and pushing each other. A lot of stress everywhere. Maintenance is key for sure.

[@mgn5667]

Love Yur Handle

[@philip7288]

This is the best close up view of swashplate i have seen...great video and nicely explained

[@williamkh76]

Thank you, you’re teaching of how a helicopter work is fantastic. I really appreciate someone like you doing this.

[@yogeshjain1682]

Amazing video, millions of thanks for such a basic but most important information in a short clip, please keep it up and all the best.

[@pb9874]

I'm learning on a Cabri in London but if I were in BC I'd want to learn from these guys...Awesome teaching. Thanks!

[@davecrupel2817]

This thing is the automatic transmission of the aviation world. I'm an aircraft mechanic. And even *I* can not wrap my head around exactly how this enchanted hardware works. Truly a marvelous construct of great engineering prowess.

[@nyer070]

And here I was trying to understand it in 5 minutes 🤣

[@joncurry9829]

Helicopter mechanic here. It all plays into Bernoulle's principle and angle of attack influencing lift. I agree that it is an engineering marvel.

[@JIUNnF]

Когда думаеш что знаеш как оно работает.

[@pilotpeego1820]

Awesome video Mischa. Very informative!👍

[@samspade8612]

Outstanding video! Easy to grasp the swash plate concept.

[@leonardodivinci804]

Super short and super Brilliant! One of the best explanations I have seen. Thanks as always.

[@ellonysman]

Yes! #1....what a great instructor!

[@truckerray7533]

A very good explanation of the helicopter swashplate & how it works for those who do not understand helicopter flight. You should also do a video with the anti-torque control pedals in relation to the pitch control changes of the tail rotor & how this affects helicopter flight (anti-torque from the main rotor to keep the helo fuselage straight as an arrow during forward flight & left/right directional turn of the nose/tail of the airfraft of the vertical axis plane)!

[@johncorson6599]

Thanks … love the demonstration!

[@andrewneill9873]

Very well explained. Thank you for this video. I was particularly surprised by the fact that inputs are not felt until 90° later in the rotation... What a complex and incredible machine the helicopter is.

[@vstol]

The "Phase Lag" was shown very well.

[@fpshimanshuyadav171]

Gyroscopic precession

[@wernerschulte6245]

There is a term for that and people speak it and are proud to know. Do they ? Let me try to make it more understandable: Take a line and fix a stone at the end. Then play cowboy and let the stone rotate over your head like a lasso. Now, I will stand in front of you waiting for the flying stone. Just when it is over my head I push it upwards. So now, when will the stone have its maximum height? Over my head ? No, I pushed it and give only an upward impulse. The stone will rise and will have its maximum height on your left or on your right side, depending on the rotation direction you have chosed.

[@jasonpeters9295]

Great video and demonstration! I still don't know much about helicopters, but after watching this video I now know more than nothing. Thanks and keep up the good work!

[@winjarskjelten2856]

I just love your videos. Straight to the point and you're very good at explaining things easily to understand, for everyone. Thanks a lot! Cheers from a coming helipilot (hopefully😅)

[@excellenceinanimation960]

This is aweseome! I almost had my head around it but i was a little unsure of how the direction of the copter was changed by adjusting the swash! Makes perfect sence now! I wasnt to build a rc chopper from scratch soon. Already got a bicopter to fly in chinook config but now its time for a real helocopter!

[@marownmachinery4370]

Absolutely great video. Loved it.

[@scottmorrison7828]

Very clear and concise, outstanding!

[@discoverymoi]

great vid man, so crazy engineering found in helis.

[@lankaat]

Awesome and simple explanation. Thanks!!

[@bigdogtim7998]

Outstanding explanation of the Swashplate and how all the parts work on a Helicopter. Interesting to learn at age 55 yrs, what the Controls of the Sticks in the Chopper and what they do together to raise and move forward, right, left, and move the Chopper backwards. Now, “Get in the Chopper!”

[@jamespaul1613]

I've waited for years for such a clear explanation.

[@adolfconradigharas439]

Thankyou so much for this brother, it really helped me a lot, the way how you explained and showed how the cyclic control works made it easier for me to understand thank you so much. May GOD bless you brother, keepsafe.

[@highwayupful]

Nice vivid explanation

[@stachowi]

Love these explainer videos (love the Cabri)

[@markjaski6438]

That was great. Very simple explanation of something very complex, Thanks 😀

[@Blueaveo3568]

Thanks for this video it covers something I always wanted to understand! I love your channel!

[@walterthorne4819]

As always...very excellent!

[@ndeepowder]

This really helped my understanding of how is works, great video

[@TYOUNG0168]

Excellent explanation

[@Pppppapi]

Thank you for an amazing video!

[@paulcase5570]

Excellent explanation.

[@TheHoodGuru]

awesome video I watched after watching an animated one. Yours was better than the other one for the visuals. Great job.

[@commiezombie2477]

Kind of functions like a BMX D brake gyro mechanism sort of. Stationary and rotating plates linked together using bearings so that one can rotate while still being able to change angles. Pretty cool stuff!

[@fatbudgiekillen8997]

I learned something in this video, great work!

[@kennedymunyao8472]

Great explanation

[@RaySaucedo]

Thanks for this interesting technical explanations about the cycling on the helicopters. You are a súper professional on helicopters flying and operating this important system. I fully appreciate that you take your time on upload the video. Thanks.

[@vijaytadepalli2618]

Thank you.you are an excellent teacher👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@josecarrillo8995]

Very nice.. good information. Thanks!

[@sajilvijay]

Thank you for the info !

[@tandemwings4733]

Thank you for that. I love to know how stuff really works. Good job..!!!

[@JoseSilva-sd8oc]

Very nice and descriptive! Thank you for your time. =)

[@Jbmc65]

Awesome, I didn't even know those plates where there. Had no idea what the cyclic did on the blades. This was very informational

[@RichieRouge206]

Really great video, I was always trying to make swash plates from Technic Lego as a kid being obsessed with helicopters. Thank you

[@2779mattie]

Realy cool thanks for the explanation and thanks for the knowledge

[@acoustic61]

A helicopter swash plate always reminded me of mechanical contraptions used in carnival rides.

[@TheSmileyTek]

I didn't know about the 90 degree "thing". Learn something new every day. Cool

[@davidwallace5738]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful video.

[@williamsmith2919]

Very informative video. Thank you.

[@wernerschulte6245]

Thank you for the vid. As an airplane flyer (and builder) I am always frightend of so many moveble parts which not only move but need to move in an exact manner. I know it works. However, my little ultralight seems to be more safe to me. If the engine stops I can glide to the next field (only one time happened since now). When the rotor of a heli crashes . . . . not thinking about that.

[@jerryferguson5461]

It is called gyroscopic precession. Easily demonstrated by pushing down on a rotating gyroscope. The gyroscope does not migrate directly away from the downward push but it goes sideways.

[@techwithaccurate967]

Thanks this video is very helpful for me.love you bro keep it up

[@ladydayanah3869]

So good suggestion and very nice explain about that helicopter wing.

[@mojocopter71]

Nice job! Wish I had these videos 22 years ago

[@vince6331]

Love me a helicopter tech video. keep them coming.

[@otreblideyap1185]

I'm learning from your videos. thanks man

[@YourCreatorGod]

Thank you explains it perfectly.👍

[@stupossibleify]

Excellent video. Always wondered how non rotating stick input could alter the pitch of rotating posts

[@johnelias9568]

Awesome video

[@werrieshorne6929]

Great. Loved it.

[@rcas350pilot8]

Nice, Good vid. very informative

[@kwadjutsufpv273]

Good explanation 👍

[@jjtmarais6573]

Swashplates and gyroscopic precession are my most favorite topics to talk about 😂😂 thanks for the video keep it coming 👍👍😁

[@waynejohn8]

I am with you there, JJT

[@Wolfhound_81]

That stuff is really cool, but relatively easy to understand because you can just watch it like demonstrated here. What I found more interesting to learn about is the finer details of aerodynamics, like transverse flow effect and going into the finer details of why the helicopter reacts to ETL like it does. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXqwqWWig7WNq6c

[@deborahchesser7375]

JJT marais and angular momentum and centrifugal and centripetal forces ? Me too 🤓

[@johnbrookes2196]

Im with you their but we are not much fun at partys.

[@mnr497]

@@johnbrookes2196 You're going to the wrong parties ;)

[@fjbutch]

That has been a mystery to me for yonks... thanks for the great explanation !!!!

[@kellymoses8566]

Helicopter swashplates are one of the greatest mechanical inventions ever

[@tochukwunnyigide4025]

I can watch helicopters all day!

[@daleblue22]

That's why I love the AS350 main rotor. Just simple.

[@yossuy643]

you have good recture. love it.

[@absalommikkelsen]

Magic Really Fascinating

[@godsroseinbloomh3246]

Excellent info 👌

[@engineersden]

Great video! Can you also make a video about lead/lag hinges and dampers, flapping and the coriolis effect?

[@cezarcerbam6684]

Great channel! Congrats and thanks

[@drewbello8721]

Great job again brother! I can remember I had the hardest time understanding the why of a 90 degree reaction to control input until my instructor brought in a top and showed me. It just does he said...lol!

[@adambrickley1119]

Like to see a video of that.

[@akadiyodi]

very helpful Thanks

[@marylamkhiam5867]

Thank you for this video ...

[@moselomika9423]

Good work for sure

[@timodell5728]

Phase lag refers more to blades moving ahead or behind the zero position during rotation.

[@lakdheromri1647]

Concise and precise, it is almost the same approach for the tail rotor ; the action on the pedals will lead to an adjustment in the tail rotor blades pitch angle, one pitch angle will increase and the second will decrease. My question is what is the difference between the different types of rotor (rigid,semi-rigid and fully articulated)?????

[@checkyoursix5623]

First, imagine, in this case, a rigid 3-bladed rotor head and blade system where all blades are mechanically separated by 120 degrees of angle. When it rotates, all blades are 120 degrees apart from one another. Now, let's talk about a Fully Articulated rotor head. Each blade has a vertical hinge, to allow the blade to "lead" or "lag", i.e., seek a position ahead or behind that 120 degree line due to aerodynamic forces, and a horizontal hinge, to allow the blade to rise or fall, i.e., seek a position up or down from that 120 degree line due to aerodynamic forces. The rotor head that Pilot Yellow is using as a teaching aid appears to be Semi-Rigid, with only a vertical hinge. A rigid rotor has neither of these hinge features.

[@MyFavoriteDisease]

A tiny bit of correction: Only two-bladed rotors can be semi-rigid. This is a fully articulated rotor system.

[@GaiusCaesarAugustusGermanicus.]

Wikipedia explains it well enough

[@frankjacoby9460]

Yes, and my first flight in a helicopter( New Mexico State Police) was exciting and so adrenaline inducing, I thought it was going to tear itself to pieces and in my mind I related it to the churning blades of a kitchen mixer. I would volunteer to fly in any helicopter I could because I love them so much. Oh, great short video 👍🏽

[@Expandacraftboats]

So I learned a little something today from your video. Ain't never gonna need that knowledge, but it's fun to learn random stuff.

[@maSHEALY]

Full book explained in a couple of sentences great vid

[@danielramirezcruz.2209]

Great information thanks...

[@1tobicat]

In my humble opinion, I think that the whole assembly is called a “swashplate “. Not an “upper” and a “lower” swashplate. The upper half of the swashplate rotates with the rotor head and blades, the lower half of the swashplate is held stationary and is connected to the control inputs from the pilot. I am a BIG fan of helicopters! Get it? FAN? LIKE A MACHINE THAT BLOWS AIR? is this thing on? Take my wife, PLEASE!

[@BrettBaker]

You should be on a stage. There's one leaving in 5 minutes. ba dum dum!

[@davecrupel2817]

Aircraft mechanic here. You are correct. There is no "upper or lower" plates. There is, if you so desire, an "upper section" and "lower section."

[@chuckthebull]

So this will go over great at the next helicopter meetup...god luck!