ALL ABOUT
BY KIRA LLOYD — AGE 13
Helicopters are kind of weird if you think about it . They are unique compared to their other aircraft counterparts . For example , helicopters can fly both vertically and horizontally and stay stationary in the air , whereas an airplane can only fly horizontally — although different , it ’ s extremely helpful . Taking advantage of this ability is especially useful if you must land quickly or make sharp maneuvers . Helicopters have one or more rotors , which are the blades you see on top of them . Most drones also have rotors like these because they allow for quick , sudden changes in movement .
Rotors are wings , but they spin around instead of redirecting airflow . When rotors on a helicopter are rotating , they wobble to keep the movement .
16 LET ’ S GO AEROSPACE
If you slowed down a video of a helicopter , you would see how the blades move up and down as well as in circles . ( See the video above .)
Because of their ability to both fly and land quickly , helicopters are often used for emergency services . For example , you may see someone being airlifted , or observe security / rescue operatives being transported in these . Helicopters are used both by civilians and the military since they not only provide a fun passenger experience , but can also be used as a weapon or search and rescue aircraft .
There are varying numbers of rotors on a helicopter , but the most commonly found is one “ primary rotor ” on the front and a smaller rotor near the back .
The more rotors a helicopter has , the more stable it tends to be . However , adding a lot of rotors also adds weight and drag to it , so most helicopters only have a few . Even with the weight , though , most helicopters can go between 140-160 mph .
One of the fastest helicopters is the Chinook , which is used in the Army and can carry more than 50 soldiers at 188 mph , almost 60 mph faster than your average helicopter . The Chinook has a distinctive design compared to others , and is called a tandem helicopter . A tandem helicopter means there are two large rotors on top of the aircraft , one at the front and one at the back .