Flapping induced washout.
3,382 views · Published 21 September 2010 · 3:46 · Indexed 29 October 2026
Channel: RCmags · 2010 · Gaming
Washout is the tendency of a wing to decrease it's angle of attack (AoA) . Shifting the positing of the swashplate linkages moves the hinge line of each blade. Moving the linkage farther away from the blade tips will induce washout (more flapping, less angle of attack - vice versa). If closer washin is induced (more flapping, more angle of attack - vice versa). Induced washout provides: - Improved lateral flight stability: Induced washout helps cancel out dissymmetry of lift. When the helicopter is moving laterally, the advancing blade (moving into the direction of motion) will flap upwards and decrease it's AoA. The retreating blade (moving away from the direction of motion) will flap downwards and increase it's AoA. Keeping the total lift across the rotor constant even though the blades don't have equal speed. - Vibration decrease: The tendency of the blades to remain perpendicular to the rotor shaft helps dampen vibrations. Increasing/decreasing AoA in order to keep the forces acting on them equal. - Slight increase in maximum airspeed. Since dissymmetry of lift is mostly cancelled out, more cyclic control can go into tilting the helicopter, thus pushing forward more.
