Magnificent Helicopters: History and Features

Early History of Helicopters

• Vertical flight existed since 400 BC, with children in China playing with flying toys made from bamboo that lifted when spun.
• Around 1480, Leonardo da Vinci designed a machine resembling a helicopter.

Characteristics of Helicopters

• Also known as "choppers" due to the noise made by the blades.
• Agile and can take off and land vertically from various locations such as ships, mountains, and rooftops.
• Do not require a runway and can fly in many different directions.
• Can fly lower than other aircraft and hover motionless.

Controls and Rotors

• Requires constant control to offset the gusty air created by the machine.
• Typically has one main rotor blade above the main body and a smaller rotor above the tail to stop the craft from spinning.
• Some helicopters have two horizontal rotors that spin in opposite directions, allowing them to lift heavier objects.

Disadvantages of Helicopters

• Noisy and vibrate a lot.
• Not as fast as fixed-wing aeroplanes.

Advantages of Helicopters

• Able to access remote areas and those that are hard to reach.