Comments on: Translating tendency

By: Dylan

Dylan — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:30:48 +0000

Translating Tendency is caused from the thrust generated from the tail rotor. As collective is increased, tail rotor thrust increases resulting in right drift. In most military helicopters, we counteract this with automated flight control systems. It will automatically displace the tip path plane (rotors) to the left to counteract the right drift. Additionally, one final note – GYROSCOPIC PROCESSION IS NOT PHASE LAG!

By: Cfiiiclint

Cfiiiclint — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:25:49 +0000

We teach our students in the R22 that translating tendency is compensated in the r22 that the main rotor is offset 2 degrees to the left, but as I begin to get more and more experience as an instructor and building a relationship with the mechanic at our school I’m beginning to doubt if that is entirely accurate.. And there seems to be quite the debate about this subject among all the CFII’s on this subject. So hopefully to put this to rest does anyone know for 100% sure how translating tendency is compensated for in the R22?

By: Cory

Cory — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:22:22 +0000

David, translating tendency is always counteracted by the pilot.Any time you add any pedal input, there is a reaction causing the helicopter to drift, just like you said, when you are in a stable hover the reason you have to add a bit of left cyclic is because if you didn’t, the helicopter would slide to the right due to the tailrotor thrust pushing you to the right, it is the same when you are slowing down..When you decrease collective, you have to add right pedal and a bit of right cyclic to counteract the tailrotor from sliding the fuselage to the left.

By: David Shirley

David Shirley — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:08:39 +0000

I don’t know how many other helicopters this is true for, but in the Robinson R22, translating tendency is manually counteracted by pilot input, in order for the helicopter to hover over a spot, the cyclic control must actually be slightly to the left of center.

By: Alan D. Resnicke

Alan D. Resnicke — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:02:56 +0000

Teaching this to students, and why it mattered, was a challenge at times – especially the why. Then we took them into tight, confined areas and suddenly it became much clearer to them!

By: Restor8

Restor8 — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:44:46 +0000

Good information to know as a pilot. Keep up the good work.