Definition

Noun: * The long, airfoil-shaped component of a helicopter's rotor system that rotates to generate the aerodynamic lift required to keep the helicopter airborne. It is the primary lifting surface.

Usage

• The term "rotor blade" refers specifically to the individual, wing-like element. A helicopter's main rotor consists of multiple rotor blades attached to a central hub.
• It is a technical term used in aviation, engineering, and general descriptions of helicopters.
• Example: "During the pre-flight inspection, the pilot carefully checked each rotor blade for any signs of damage or ice accumulation."

Examples

• "The helicopter's rotor blades began to spin faster, creating the distinctive sound as it prepared for takeoff."
• "Advanced composite materials are often used in the construction of modern rotor blades to reduce weight and increase strength."
• "A bird strike can cause significant damage to a rotor blade, compromising the aircraft's safety."

Advanced Usage

• The term is central to describing helicopter mechanics. For example, the angle at which a rotor blade meets the air is called its pitch. Pilots control the collective pitch (all blades simultaneously) to ascend or descend, and the cyclic pitch (each blade individually as it rotates) to tilt and move in a specific direction.

Variants and Related Words

• Main rotor blade: Specifies a blade of the primary, overhead lifting rotor, as opposed to a tail rotor blade.
• Tail rotor blade: Refers to the smaller blade on the helicopter's tail rotor, which counteracts torque and provides directional control.
• Rotor (noun): The entire rotating assembly, including the hub and the blades.
• Airfoil (noun): The general shape of a wing, blade, or other surface designed to generate lift when moving through air.

Synonyms

• Rotor wing: A less common but technically descriptive synonym.
• Helicopter blade: A more general, non-technical term.

Related Phrases

• Rotor blade tip: The outermost end of the rotor blade.
• Rotor blade spar: The main structural backbone running the length of the blade.
• Feathering the blades: Adjusting the pitch angle of the rotor blades.

Noun

1. the long airfoil that rotates to provide the lift that supports a helicopter in the air