vastehoekrotors

Vastehoekrotors, also known as fixed-pitch rotors, are rotor systems in which each blade is set to a fixed angle relative to the rotor hub and cannot be actively adjusted during operation. This contrasts with variable-pitch or collective-pitch rotors, which change blade pitch to control lift and thrust.

Design and operation: In a vastongehoekrotor system, blades are manufactured with a predetermined pitch. Lift and thrust are mainly controlled by rotor speed and engine power rather than by changing blade angle. Some designs may use a limited number of fixed settings chosen to suit a typical operating envelope, but there is no continuous pitch adjustment during flight.

Performance: Fixed-angle rotors are simple, robust, and economical due to reduced mechanical complexity and weight. They offer predictable behavior in stable conditions and are easy to maintain. However, their efficiency is highly dependent on wind or airspeed, and performance can decline under off-design conditions. They have limited capability for autorotation and maneuvering in gusty or rapidly changing conditions.

Applications and history: Fixed-pitch rotors have historical use in early rotorcraft and remain common in certain low-cost or educational platforms, including some hobbyist or training drones and small RC helicopters. In wind energy, fixed-pitch rotor blades appear in simple, low-maintenance turbines where peak efficiency is less critical than reliability; larger modern systems typically employ variable-pitch technologies to cover a broader range of wind speeds.

See also: rotor blade, helicopter, fixed-pitch propeller, variable-pitch rotor.