What force causes a helicopter to turn in cruise flight?
A
Tail rotor pressure or force around the vertical axis.
B
Vertical lift component.
C
Horizontal lift component.✓ Correct Answer
Explanation
When the rotor disk is tilted in a bank, total rotor thrust divides into a vertical component supporting weight and a horizontal component that pulls the helicopter into the turn, as the Helicopter Flying Handbook explains. The tail rotor controls yaw and trim but does not supply the turning force in cruise.
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