A power demand anticipation system for a rotorcraft includes an engine subsystem having an engine with a power output. The power demand anticipation system also includes one or more sensors including a cyclic control sensor. The one or more sensors are operable to detect one or more flight parameters of the rotorcraft to form sensor data including a cyclic control position. A power demand anticipation module is in data communication with the engine subsystem and the one or more sensors. The power demand anticipation module is operable to anticipate a power demand of the engine using the sensor data to form a power demand anticipation signal. The engine subsystem is operable to adjust the power output of the engine based on the power demand anticipation signal received from the power demand anticipation module.