Composite swashplate guide for rotorcraft control systems

A rotor system comprising:

• a rotationally stationary swashplate pivotally mounted about a central pivot point defined along an axis of rotation;
• a rotational swashplate which defines a rotor pitch control point, said rotor pitch control point defined along an in-line plane which passes through said central pivot point;
• a bearing system configured to allow the rotational swashplate to rotate relative to the rotationally stationary swashplate;
• and
• a swashplate guide for receiving a shaft and mating to an adjacent component, the swashplate guide including a hollow cylindrical tube formed from a composite material, a spherical bearing being mounted concentrically about an exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical tube such that the hollow cylindrical shaft provides an engagement surface for the spherical bearing, wherein the swashplate guide includes a flange that provides an interface with the adjacent component.