SIFT Army Aviation Information Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

In the context of helicopter flight, particularly during a stable vertical hover, each control has its unique function. While the collective control is primarily responsible for increasing altitude by changing the pitch of the rotor blades, the other controls also contribute but to varying degrees.

The cyclic control primarily affects the helicopter's longitudinal and lateral movement rather than vertical control. By tilting the rotor disc forward or sideways, it can enable the helicopter to move in those directions, but it does not play a significant role in directly increasing altitude. Therefore, during a vertical hover, increasing altitude relies less on the cyclic control and more on the collective and throttle settings.

The anti-torque pedals are used to control the yaw of the helicopter, counteracting the torque produced by the main rotor. While they must be coordinated in flight to maintain directional control, they do not influence altitude changes directly. The throttle, while important for overall engine performance, is not actively manipulated during a stable vertical hover when altitude changes are made primarily through manipulation of the collective.

Thus, in the scenario presented, the cyclic control indeed plays the least active role in increasing altitude during a stable vertical hover.