An aerial vehicle is described herein. The aerial vehicle includes a lift mechanism that includes a rotor blade assembly coupled to a motor assembly. The rotor blade assembly includes a plurality of rotor blades that are pivotably coupled to a rotor blade clamping mechanism. The rotor blade clamping mechanism includes an upper paddle clamp that is coupled to a lower paddle clamp. The upper paddle clamp includes a center protrusion and a plurality of blade support protrusions extending outwardly from the lower outer surface. The center protrusion includes a center shaft aperture sized and shaped to receive a motor shaft therein. Each blade support protrusion is sized and shaped to be inserted through a corresponding positioning aperture of a corresponding rotor blade. The lower paddle clamp includes a central recess to receive the center protrusion therein and a plurality of blade recesses to receive a corresponding blade support protrusion therein.