SIFT Army Aviation Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Prep

The primary purpose of the main rotor blades on a helicopter is to provide lift and control the flight direction. The rotor blades are designed to create lift by generating a difference in air pressure on their upper and lower surfaces as they rotate. This lift is essential for getting the helicopter off the ground and maintaining flight. Furthermore, the angle of the rotor blades can be adjusted to control not only the amount of lift produced but also the direction the helicopter flies. This is achieved through cyclic and collective pitch control, allowing the pilot to maneuver the aircraft effectively in three-dimensional space.

While other functions like stabilization are important, they are secondary to the fundamental roles of lift and directional control that the rotor blades serve in helicopter operations. The other options, such as increasing drag or generating noise, do not accurately capture the primary functions of the rotor blades in a helicopter's flight dynamics.