How does a helicopter fly?

 

What are the physics behind the flight of helicopter? What sorcery is this???

Luckily, I found this article on the great blog Geeks Are Sexy.

I would simply take the same word again: the guy is brilliant! Just watch.

First:  introduction to the physics

Then the controls for the pilot

Check the swash plate

The not-so-easy gyroscopic precession

Aaaaand last but not least: more explanation concerning the application of the gyroscopic precession. One key to understand: notice that the laser is placed with an angle of 90° to the normal position of the blade.