What kind of steering gear is used on helicopters?
As a complex aircraft, the helicopter's control system relies on precision servos to adjust and stabilize its flight attitude. As the core component of the helicopter flight control system, the steering gear's performance and reliability are directly related to flight safety. This article will introduce in detail the types of servos used in helicopters, their working principles and popular models on the market, and combine them with hot topics in the past 10 days to provide readers with a comprehensive reference.
1. Basic types of helicopter servos

Helicopter servos are mainly divided into two categories: electric servos and hydraulic servos. The specific classifications are as follows:
| Servo type | Working principle | Applicable scenarios |
|---|---|---|
| Electric steering gear | Mechanical movement is achieved through motor-driven gear sets | Small helicopters and drones |
| Hydraulic steering gear | Use the pressure of hydraulic oil to push the piston into motion | Large commercial helicopters, military helicopters |
2. Working principle of helicopter steering gear
The core function of a helicopter steering gear is to convert electrical signals from the flight control system into mechanical motion to adjust the angle of the rotor or the thrust of the tail rotor. The following are the key steps for steering gear work:
1.signal reception: The servo receives command signals from the flight control computer or the pilot's joystick.
2.signal conversion: The circuit inside the steering gear converts the electrical signal into the action of the motor or hydraulic valve.
3.mechanical output: Driven by a gear set or hydraulic piston to move a control surface (such as a rotor blade).
3. Comparison of popular helicopter steering gear models and performance
According to recent market research and technical discussions, the following are several steering gear models widely used in the helicopter field and their performance parameters:
| Model | Type | Torque (N·m) | Response time (ms) | Applicable models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savox SH-1290MG | Electric steering gear | 25.0 | 60 | medium civil helicopter |
| Futaba BLS251 | Electric steering gear | 12.0 | 50 | small drone |
| Moog 124-540 | Hydraulic steering gear | 120.0 | 30 | Large military helicopter |
4. Recent hot topics: Technical innovation of helicopter steering gear
In the past 10 days, hot topics in the aviation field have mainly focused on the intelligent and lightweight design of steering gears. The following is part of the discussion:
1.Intelligent steering gear: With the development of artificial intelligence technology, new servos have begun to integrate self-diagnosis and adaptive functions, and can adjust response parameters in real time to adapt to different flight conditions.
2.Material innovation: The application of carbon fiber and titanium alloy significantly reduces the weight of the steering gear while improving durability.
3.market trends: The proportion of electric servos in small and medium-sized helicopters is increasing year by year, while hydraulic servos are still the first choice for large helicopters.
5. How to choose a suitable helicopter steering gear
When choosing a steering gear, you need to consider the following factors:
1.Torque requirement:Select a servo with torque matching according to the size and flight load of the helicopter.
2.Response speed: Helicopters flying at high speed require faster response times.
3.environmental adaptability: Helicopters used in military or harsh environments need to choose waterproof and dustproof servos.
Through the above analysis, I believe readers will have a deeper understanding of the types, working principles and market trends of helicopter servos. In the future, with the advancement of technology, servos will develop in a smarter and more efficient direction.
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