The Role of Newton’s Third Law in Aviation
Pilot Institute
APRIL 12, 2025
The complication with helicopters is that the main rotor is driven by an engine that applies a twisting force (torque) to spin it. This is called torque reaction, and if its left unchecked, the helicopter fuselage will spin in the opposite direction of the main rotor. These rotors create equal and opposite torques that cancel out.
52 
Let's personalize your content