Introduction
A helicopter is a plane with one or more power-driven horizontal propellers. Vertical landing and taking-off are possible because of these propellers only. Also, these rotors help helicopters to move in any direction, or to remain stationary in the air.
Paul Cornu designed the world’s first helicopter. He was a French engineer who built this helicopter to perform a crewed free flight.
Helicopter lifts with the help of the main rotor. It produces lift and reaction torque. Helicopter spins due to this reaction torque. Bernoulli’s Principle describes the relation between the speed of air and pressure in the air. Curved wings on the top and flatter on the bottom side. It allows less air pressure on the top of the wing; this causes suction and as a result, the helicopter moves up.
WORLD’S FASTEST HELICOPTER
CH-47F Chinook:
Vertol developed CH-47F Chinook and Boeing manufactured it. It is an American twin-engined, tandem rotor and heavy-lift helicopter. It is an advanced multi-mission helicopter. US Army and international defense forces use it for accomplishing missions. A few of the premium features of this helicopter is:
1. Integrated digital cockpit management system: Useful in providing information of surrounding to pilots.
2. Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) Cockpit
3. Advanced cargo-handling capabilities
Chinook Block II is the latest modernization initiative. It is a testament to the robustness of Chinook’s original design. and its 55-year legacy of technological advancements.
Its greatest speed is 302km\h. CH-47F Chinook’s technical specifications tell a lot about its robustness. It has the capacity to carry a useful load of 10,886 kg. It has a fuel capacity of 3914 liters. Along with this, its mission radius also extended up to 370km. With a crew of three, CH-47s can transport 44 seated troops or 24 casualty litter.
It not only serves U.S. Army but more than 19 different countries.
It is useful in the transportation of troops, equipment, artillery, and fuels. It is also the choice for humanitarian disaster-relief operations. It is useful in the transportation of relief supplies and the mass evacuation of refugees.
EUROCOPTER AS-365 DAUPHIN 2:
Aerospatiale company manufactured Eurocopter AS-365 Dauphin 2. It is a medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter.
Eurocopter AS-365 Dauphin 2 has found its utility in many areas. Few of which are corporate transport, military transportation, search, and rescue helicopter.
It has the greatest cruise speed of 324 km\hr. It has a four-blade main rotor and eight-bladed fantail. It has a Turboshaft engine installed in it. It has a take-off weight capacity of 4300kg. Its fuel tank capacity is about 1155 liters. With a crew of 1-2 pilots, it has a capacity of 11 -12 passengers.
Its gearbox is also connected to two separate hydraulic systems. For emergency use, it has a stand-by hydraulic system. Rotor blades used in Eurocopter AS-365 Dauphin 2 are comprised of carbon fiber. A combination of rotorcraft’s main rotor and Fenestron tail is an ideal choice. This combination provides a low-noise and low-vibration flight experience.
Major avionic features of this helicopter include:
1. Weather radar
2. Global Positioning System (GPS)
3. Touch screen display
4. Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
5. Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS)
6. Digital Audio Communication System (DACS)
AGUSTAWESTLAND AW609:
Bell/Agusta Aerospace AgustaWestland Leonardo developed AW609. AW609 is a multirole powered lift plane with a quality of a fixed-wing turboprop airplane. The combination of pressurized cabins enables high-altitude flight above bad weather. AW609 comes with advanced Night-Vision Goggle (NVG) compatible Collins Aerospace Fusion avionics. NVG enables greater situational awareness. While digital fly-by-wire flight control system reduces pilot workload.
AW609 targets the civil aviation market, especially VIP people and oil or gas operators. A refreshment center and bathroom further enhance the experience.
It has the greatest speed of 315 mph. Its technical specifications tell that it can travel up to 860 miles in one go. With a crew of 2 pilots, it has a capacity of 8 passengers. It has two rotors each with three propellers. It can tilt from vertical lift mode to horizontal fixed-wing flight. It comes with an advanced synthetic vision system. it has retractable, steerable landing light to pave the way for passengers. Its speed can overcome the challenge of distance to carry the patient to the medical center.
BELL BOEING V-22 OSPREY
Boeing Global Learning Institute developed Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey. V-22 is a joint service multirole combat plane. Tiltrotor technology merges its vertical performance with the speed and range of a fixed-wing plane. It has the strength to take off, land, and hover like a helicopter with its rotor in a vertical position. It can even convert to a turboprop airplane from an airborne state. In turboprop state, it has high-speed and high-altitude flights. Japan was the first international operator of the V-22 Osprey.
V-22 meets U.S. Navy’s need for combat search, rescue, and special warfare support. It performs high-speed, vertical lift plane, and long-range operations. Has air-to-air refueling capability. Since it has foldable rotors, troops can carry it abroad in a plane carrier or assault ship.
Despite these advantages, V-22 has the reputation for being dangerous and unreliable. Since it crashed 4 times thanks to its tilt-rotor design causing 30 casualties.
It has the greatest speed of 500km/hr. Its technical specifications tell that it can carry 24 groups of combat troops. It comprises foldable rotors which take less space on a plane carrier. It can carry a vertical take-off largest gross weight of 23859kg.
SIKORSKY X2:
Sikorsky X2 is a demonstrator plane developed by Sikorsky Aircraft. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies. This plane incorporates advanced technologies. It comprises an integrated fly-by-wire system. This entire system allows the engine, rotor, and propulsor to operate all at once.
A few more attributes are:
1. High lift-to-drag Rigid Blades
2. Active Vibration Control
3. Low Drag Hub Fairing
It also shows its utility as a flying wind tunnel. It helps to figure out the aerodynamic interaction between the main rotor and propeller.
It has the capability to perform many missions. This light tactical helicopter can conduct:
1. Attacks
2. Combat Search
3. Rescue
4. Unmanned Operations
5. Close-Air Support
6. Armed Reconnaissance and many more.
It has the greatest speed of 481km/hr. Its technical specifications tell that it has one x six-bladed pusher-type propeller. Along with that, one x six-bladed pusher-type propeller. And two x four-bladed co-axial rotor. It can travel a distance of 1300km all at once. The largest take-off weight of the helicopter is 3600kg. X2 has two-seat cockpits. The cockpit has advanced avionics to counter high vibration levels.
CONCLUSION:
Helicopters are one of the most versatile vehicles ever designed. Flying a helicopter can be the most rewarding experience one can ever experience. All these helicopters are the best helicopters in the world. But hovering can still be one of the most difficult skills when flying a helicopter. Gusty sir created by helicopter makes it difficult to control and hover it at the same spot.
Helicopters are finds utility in military, medical, and safety operations and also in:
1. Aerial Photography
2. Tourism
3. Fighting Fire and many more
The most interesting fact about the helicopter is that it has even reached Mount Everest. Didier Delsalle, a French pilot was the first person to land on the peak of Mount Everest by helicopter. They accomplished this task by piloting the Eurocopter AS350 Squirrel. To date, he is the only person to land on the peak of Everest. And they still hold the record for highest take-off from this point.
We already discussed the fastest helicopters in the world. And we came to know that helicopters find most of their utility in the army.
Ka-52 Alligator is the fastest and most dangerous helicopter in the world.