Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Helicopters

The dictionary defines a helicopter as an "aircraft thatcivilian helicopter was not given until 1946.
flies by means of horizontally rotating blades." It isSignificant developments in helicopter engineering
derived from the Greek words helix, meaning spiral,ensued during the first half of the 20th century, with
and pteron, meaning wing. Helicopters may be usedimprovements in fuels and engines. The production of
for military or civil purposes, including transportationlightweight turbo shaft engines in the second half of
of troops, infantry support, firefighting, businessthe 20th century aided in the invention of larger,
transportation, medical purposes and policefaster and higher-performance helicopters. The most
surveillance.important apparatus in a helicopter is its rotors, which
Aviation pioneers like Jan Bahyl, Louis Breguet, Emileare commonly designed in the Sikorsky-layout. Many
Berliner, and Igor Sikorsky designed the firsthelicopters also have a smaller vertical propeller called
successful helicopters, with Juan de la Ciervaa tail rotor mounted at the rear of the aircraft. This
introducing the first practical autogiro in 1923, whichcreates thrust in the opposite direction from the
became the platform for the modern helicopter.torque generated by the main rotor.
Raúl Pateras de Pescara, an inventor fromAlthough helicopters have the advantage of
Argentina, demonstrated the first fully controllablemaneuverability and can take off or land vertically
helicopter using special controls. The first practicalanywhere, a pilot can still face potential dangers like
helicopter, built by German inventor Professor Heinrichground resonance, low-G condition, vortex ring state,
Focke, could fly at a speed of 75 miles per hour.etc. Therefore, it is imperative to operate within safe
Although mass production of military helicoptersflight patterns and to avoid hazardous conditions.
started in 1942, the license for the first certified