How do you fly a helicopter?

Answer 1

I cant tell you what all the buttons do but I can say the basics.

When you are seated in the right side of the helicopter in the pilot seat, you will find both your arms and legs resting on the controls.

In your left hand you will be holding the collective pitch, this increases or decreases the engine speed. This gives you the ability to control the altitude of the craft. In the right hand you have the cyclic pitch, this tilts the main rotor so the helicopter can move left right backwards and fowards. As the craft is tilted forward the chopper will start to pick up speed. Your feet rest on the rotationairy pedals. These control the tail rotor, enabling you to rotate the helicopter whilst hovering. The rotationairy pedals are usually used in combination with the cyclic and collective pitch to make tight turns at low altitudes.

For a pilot to succsessfully control the craft and get the maximum capabilities out of it. He must be at full alert at all times and use all the controls to operate the craft.

Radar awareness is also very important for the pilots safety, especially at night.

The radar hub is usually located under the nose. Some military model helicopters however, such as the AH-64 apache longbow, have the radar hub sitting ontop of the main rotor shaft.