During cruise flight, above which indicated airspeed (KIAS) should the aircraft be?

• A. 80 KIAS
• B. 60 KIAS
• C. 90 KIAS
• D. 100 KIAS

Answer: (A)

In cruise you choose a steady, efficient airspeed that minimizes power required while keeping handling smooth. For this helicopter, about 80 KIAS is the target because it gives a good balance of translational lift (which reduces the rotor’s power demand), stable handling, and overall efficiency.

Sitting around 80 KIAS keeps the rotor operating in a comfortable, green range where the aircraft isn’t fighting excessive rotor drag at slower speeds or parasite drag at higher speeds. If you fly much slower, the rotor has to work harder to maintain level flight and you’ll burn more power; if you fly much faster, drag rises and efficiency drops, making the flight less economical and more demanding on the controls.

So, maintaining roughly 80 KIAS in cruise provides stable, efficient, and predictable performance.