The ability to control the maneuvering of any helicopter
on this list involves several challenges. Pilots have four primary controls: collective pitch, cyclic pitch, throttle, and tail rotor.
Rather than getting its lift from a wing, like an airplane, the helicopter depends upon rotating blades. The blades are shaped similarly to the wing of an airplane, but their mechanical rotation, rather than the
forward movement of the rotorcraft, is what keeps the helicopter flying. The advantage of having rotating blades is the ability of the helicopter to hover.
Lift of the helicopter varies by the speed at which the rotor is turning, plus the size and shape of the blades which make up the rotors, and the angle at which the
blades meet the air. By changing the angle of attack using the collective pitch control, helicopter pilots can lift off of the ground and hover.
To maneuver a helicopter, each blade of the rotor is hinged to its hub to provide for up and down movement. When a helicopter is on the ground,
without their main rotor turning, the rotor tends to bend downward from the hub. When the rotor is turning, it lifts back to a non-drooping position.
As the angle of attack of the main rotor blades increases, the blade will rise on its hinge, thus producing increased lift. The speed of helicopters can be
varied by changing the angle of attack. The effect is to tilt the rotor disk in the direction of desired flight. The cyclic pitch control changes the rotor pitch effecting the angle of attack.
If the helicopter only has a single set of main rotor blades, the entire fuselage would turn
in the opposite direction from which the blades are revolving. A smaller rotor, mounted vertically near the tail of the helicopter, prevents this from happening.
Although complicated to operate, the versatility of the helicopter is invaluable. It is used for numerous tasks which no other vehicles
can accommodate. Today's thehelicopter isproduced with light weight, yet strong and durable composite materials which make it lighter and longer lasting.
As the technology of the helicopter advances, it will be able to fly at greater speeds, carry greater payloads, and operate at lower costs.
The following helicopter list represents the most popular rotorcraft that we are aware of. If you have a favorite that should
be added to the helicopter list, please email us.
Boeing 234 Civilian transport version of their Chinook helicopter.
Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave Twin piston engine U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and USMC transport assault helicopter was the largest U.S. military helicopter from from 1953 to 1961.
Eurocopter HH-65A Dolphin US Coast Guard SAR helicopter.
Piasecki HRP-1 The original helicopter employing tandem rotors.
Hughes 300 The basis for one of the most successful light helicopter families.
Piasecki HUP Retriever Helicopter flew with the U.S. Army, Marines, and Navy. Best known for rescuing downed Naval aviators, it was also used as a transport and ASW helicopter.
Kamov Ka-25 Used by Russia for submarine detection, SAR, and as a transport helicopter.
Kamov Ka-26 Utility helicopter with a wide range of missions, especially agriculture.
Boeing MH-47E All weather special operations version of the Chinook helicopter used by the U.S. Army.
MH-68A USCG helicopter used for maritime patrol against drug smugglers.
Mil Mi-2 Hoplite Russian utility design helicopter, built by PZL in Poland, used by the military armed with air to surface missiles, in agriculture and civil aviation.
Mil Mi-4 Hound Helicopter primarily used by the Soviet military, it was also used for agriculture and as an air tanker.
Mil Mi-6 Hook Huge Soviet helicopter, used primarily as a transport.
Mil Mi-8Widely used helicopter, mostly as a troop transport.
Schweizer 330 Originally designed as a lightweight U.S. Army training helicopter, it went on to become a popular utility helicopter.
Sikorsky S-55 First U.S. Army dedicated transport helicopter.
Sikorsky S-58 Chocktaw Versatile 18 seat helicopter used by the U.S. military, and later exported throughout the world.
Sikorsky S-61 Sea King Official helicopter of the U.S. president, designated Marine One, also used for S&R, oil platform supply and passenger transport.
Sikorsky S-62 Seaguard Single turbine engine helicopter used for SAR by the U.S.C.G. from 1963 through 1989.
Sikorsky S-92 Mid size, twin engine, single rotor helicopter used by the military and in civil aviation, most notably as a utility transport and for SAR.
