Helicopter

A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors (propellers). Helicopters are classified as rotary-wing aircraft to distinguish them from conventional fixed-wing aircraft. The word helicopter is derived from the Greek words helix (spiral) and pteron (wing). The engine-driven helicopter was invented by the Slovak inventor Jan Bahyl. The first stable, fully-controllable helicopter placed in production was invented by Igor Sikorsky.

Applications

Helicopters have many uses, both military and civil, including troop transportation, infantry support, firefighting, shipboard operations, business transportation, casualty evacuation (including MEDEVAC, and air/sea/mountain rescue), police and civilian surveillance, carrying goods (some helicopters can carry slung loads, accommodating awkwardly shaped items), or as a mount for still, film or television cameras.

Related Topics:
Military - Infantry - Firefighting - MEDEVAC - Air/sea/mountain rescue - Police

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Helicopters suffer from significantly higher operating and maintainence costs compared with fixed wing aircraft. The costs are due to inherent mechanical complexity and greater power requirements for a given gross weight. For these reasons, helicopters are not economically viable for commercial transportation. Speed and range limitations also constrain commercial applications.

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