Helicopter Flight Dynamics, 3rd Edition

2Helicopter and Tiltrotor Flight Dynamics – An Introductory Tour

An EH101 Merlin approaching a Type 23 Frigate during development flight trials (Photograph courtesy of Westland Helicopters)

In aviation history, the nineteenth century is characterized by man's relentless search for a practical flying machine. The 1860s saw a peculiar burst of enthusiasm for helicopters in Europe and the above picture, showing an 1863 design by Gabrielle de la Landelle, reflects the fascination with aerial tour‐boats at that time. The present chapter takes the form of a “tour of flight dynamics” on which the innovative, and more practical, European designs from the 1960s – the Lynx, Puma, and Bo105 – will be introduced as the principal reference aircraft of this book. These splendid designs are significant in the evolution of the modern helicopter, and an understanding of their behaviour will provide important learning material on this tour and throughout the book.

2.1 Introduction

This chapter is intended to guide the reader on a Tour of the subject of this book with the aim of instilling increased motivation by sampling and linking the wide range of subtopics that make the whole. The chapter is likely to raise more questions than it will answer. It will point to later chapters of the book ...