A variable thrust cross-flow fan system for a rotorcraft, the system comprising: a cross-flow fan assembly having a longitudinal axis and including first and second driver plates having a plurality of blades (110a - 110g) rotatably mounted therebetween, the plurality of blades (110a - 110g) disposed radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis such that the plurality of blades (110a - 110g) have a generally circular path of travel when the cross-flow fan assembly rotates about the longitudinal axis, the plurality of blades (110a - 110g) moveable between a plurality of pitch angle configurations; a control assembly coupled to the plurality of blades (110a - 110g), the control assembly including a control cam forming a plurality of follower slots and further including a plurality of linkages (134a-134g), wherein each of the plurality of linkages has an inner end and an outer end, the outer end of each of the plurality of linkages (134a-134g) fixedly coupled to one of the plurality of blades (110a-110g) and the inner end of each of the plurality of linkages (134a-134g) includes a follower pin; and wherein the follower pin of each of the plurality of linkages is slidably engaged with one of the plurality of follower slots, the plurality of follower slots operable to translate relative to the cross-flow fan assembly, in response to translation of the control cam, to change the pitch angle configuration of the plurality of blades (110a - 110g); and an actuator assembly operably coupled to the control cam, the actuator assembly operable to translate the control cam relative to the cross-flow fan assembly to change the pitch angle configuration of the plurality of blades (110a - 110g) to generate variable thrust at a substantially constant rotational speed of the cross-flow fan assembly; wherein, the cross-flow fan assembly is operable to produce a thrust in one of a first or second direction in response to the actuator assembly translating the control cam leftward relative to the cross-flow fan assembly and is further operable to produce a thrust in the other of the first or second direction in response to the actuator assembly translating the control cam rightward relative to the cross-flow fan assembly, the first direction substantially opposite from the second direction. a cross-flow fan assembly having a longitudinal axis and including first and second driver plates having a plurality of blades (110a - 110g) rotatably mounted therebetween, the plurality of blades (110a - 110g) disposed radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis such that the plurality of blades (110a - 110g) have a generally circular path of travel when the cross-flow fan assembly rotates about the longitudinal axis, the plurality of blades (110a - 110g) moveable between a plurality of pitch angle configurations; a control assembly coupled to the plurality of blades (110a - 110g), the control assembly including a control cam forming a plurality of follower slots and further including a plurality of linkages (134a-134g), wherein each of the plurality of linkages has an inner end and an outer end, the outer end of each of the plurality of linkages (134a-134g) fixedly coupled to one of the plurality of blades (110a-110g) and the inner end of each of the plurality of linkages (134a-134g) includes a follower pin; and wherein the follower pin of each of the plurality of linkages is slidably engaged with one of the plurality of follower slots, the plurality of follower slots operable to translate relative to the cross-flow fan assembly, in response to translation of the control cam, to change the pitch angle configuration of the plurality of blades (110a - 110g); and an actuator assembly operably coupled to the control cam, the actuator assembly operable to translate the control cam relative to the cross-flow fan assembly to change the pitch angle configuration of the plurality of blades (110a - 110g) to generate variable thrust at a substantially constant rotational speed of the cross-flow fan assembly; wherein, the cross-flow fan assembly is operable to produce a thrust in one of a first or second direction in response to the actuator assembly translating the control cam leftward relative to the cross-flow fan assembly and is further operable to produce a thrust in the other of the first or second direction in response to the actuator assembly translating the control cam rightward relative to the cross-flow fan assembly, the first direction substantially opposite from the second direction.