The cyclic controls which axes of the helicopter?

• A. Yaw axis
• B. Pitch and roll, longitudinal and lateral
• C. Vertical axis
• D. Horizontal axis

Answer: (B)

The cyclic tilts the rotor disk to change the direction of thrust in the horizontal plane, which moves the helicopter about the two horizontal axes: pitch (nose up or down) and roll (left or right). Yaw, the rotation about the vertical axis, is controlled separately by the tail rotor with the anti-torque pedals. So the cyclic governs the pitch and roll axes (the longitudinal and lateral directions).