Helicopters

Helicopters a.k.a. Rotary-wing Aircraft

To fly, it is required to overcome gravity. This can be achieved with a “wing”. The airflows above and below the wing differ and lead to a higher pressure under the wing, which results in a force that counteracts gravity (i.e. upwards).

The first man-made machines to fly had fixed wings: the wings were attached directly to (both sides of) the machine itself. To create an airflow across such a (fixed) wing, the whole machine needs to move for the wing to generate an upward force. This is achieved through the use of an engine that drives some device to propel the whole machine through the air.
This means that a flying machine with these fixed wings needs to gain speed through the air in order to generate the lift to overcome gravity.

Another way to achieve airflow across a wing, is to rotate a wing (or several wings). Then the lifting force occurs even though the machine itself is still stationary. Rotating wing(s) allows the machine to generate lift and overcome gravity without the need to first gain speed through the air.
This means that a flying machine with rotating wings can get into the air vertically. Nowadays we all know that this can be handy.

These flying machines with rotating wings are called “rotorcraft“, “rotary-wing aircraft” or (usually) “helicopter“.

Aerospatiale Alouette III

The Aerospatiale Alouette III is a light, single-engined helicopter. Over 2,000 were produced between 1961 and 1985.
It has been used in many Armies, Air Forces and Navies in roles such as Search and Rescue, Reconnaissance, Anti-Tank, Anti-Submarine, (Passenger) Transport and several Support Roles.

Aerospatiale Gazelle

The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a lightweight multi-role helicopter that was not only used by the UK (Royal Navy, Army and RAF) and France (Army) for reconnaissance, anti-tank, transport and training, but was also used by several other countries. Around 1775 were built.

Aérospatiale SA330 Puma

The Aérospatiale SA330 ‘Puma’ is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. It was originally designed and produced by the French manufacturer Sud Aviation.
The Puma is intended for personnel transport and logistic support duties. As a troop carrier, a maximum of 16 soldiers can be carried on foldable seats. The Puma can also perform cargo transport duties, either via the external carriage of underslung payloads on a dedicated cargo hook or using the internal cabin space up to a maximum weight of 2,500 kg of cargo.
A joint manufacturing agreement was signed between Aerospatiale and Westland Helicopters in the UK. A total of around 700 of these helicopters have been built between 1968 and 1987.

Agusta A109BAi

The Agusta A109BAi (Belgian Army) ‘Hirundo’ is a twin-engine multi-role helicopter. A total of 46 were bought and they entered service between 1992 and 1994.
It is used for armed reconnaissance, observation, anti-tank missions, tactical support missions, medical evacuation and transport.
Since the early 2000’s several have been sold or otherwise withdrawn from active service.

AgustaWestland AW101 (Merlin)

The AgustaWestland AW101 ‘Merlin’ is a medium-lift helicopter for military and civil use. It was developed by a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the United Kingdom and Agusta in Italy.
Several versions exist for use by Navy and Air Force for anti-submarine warfare, medium-lift transport, Search and Rescue and as a utility helicopter.

AgustaWestland AW139

The AgustaWestland AW139 (now Leonardo AW139) is a 15-seat medium-sized twin-engined helicopter. It is used in several different roles, including VIP/corporate transport, military use, offshore transport, firefighting, law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency medical service, disaster relief, and maritime patrol. Over 900 have been built since 2001. The Leonardo HH-139A is the Italian Air Force designation for its ten search-and rescue configured AW139M (Militarised) helicopters.

AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat

The AgustaWestland AW159 ‘Wildcat’ is a military helicopter, developed by the British-Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland, and later marketed by Leonardo.
It is in use in the UK (Royal Navy and Army Air Corps), the Philippine Navy and the South Korean Navy.

AgustaWestland AW189

The AgustaWestland AW189 is a twin-engined, super-medium-lift helicopter manufactured by Leonardo S.p.A. It is derived from the AW149.
Is is used for roles such as coast guard, policing, fire-fighting, off-shore supply, etc.. About 70 have been built since 2011.

Airbus Helicopters H135 Juno

The Eurocopter EC135 ‘Juno’ (now Airbus Helicopters H135 ‘Juno’ ) is a twin-engine light utility helicopter produced by Airbus Helicopters (formerly: Eurocopter).
It is mainly used for air medical transport (medevac), corporate transport, law enforcement, offshore wind support, and military flight training. Around 1,400 have been built since 1995.

Airbus Helicopters H145

The Airbus Helicopters H145 (formerly Eurocopter EC145) is a twin-engine light utility helicopter developed and manufactured by Airbus Helicopters. The helicopter is capable to perform passenger transport (up to nine passengers), emergency medical services , Search and Rescue and utility roles. In a military role it can be used for training, logistics, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, light attack, and troop-transport operations. About 1,500 have been built since 1999.

Airbus Helicopters H175

The Airbus Helicopters H175 (formerly: Eurocopter EC175) is a 7-ton class super-medium utility helicopter produced by Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter).
It is in use in many roles in the oil and gas industry, Search and Rescue, air medical services, utility missions and corporate transportation. A military version has also been derived (H-175M).

Bell Boeing V-22B Osprey

The Bell Boeing V-22B ‘Osprey’ does not qualify as a “rotorcraft” (“helicopter”) in the conventional sense. But is shares many of its capabilities and therefore it deserves a place on this webpage.
The Bell Boeing V-22B ‘Osprey’ is an American multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) and Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) capabilities. It combines the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.
Many different versions exist: the CV-22B for the U.S. Special Operations Command, the MV-22B for the U.S. Marine Corps and the CMV-22B as the U.S. Navy variant for the carrier onboard delivery role. Over 400 have been built since 1988.

Bell UH-1H Huey

The Bell UH-1 ‘Iroquois’ (nicknamed “Huey”) is a utility military helicopter designed and produced by the American company Bell Helicopter. The Iroquois was originally designated HU-1, hence the nickname “Huey” (which has remained in common use).
The ‘Iroquois’ was first used in combat operations during the Vietnam War from March 1962. It was used for various purposes, conducting general support, air assault, cargo transport, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, electronic warfare, and ground attack missions. Armed Iroquois gunships carried a variety of weapons, including rockets, grenade launchers, and machine guns, and were often modified in the field to suit specific operations. The UH-1 has been active in many other conflicts, such as the Rhodesian Bush War, Falklands War, War in Afghanistan, and the 2007 Lebanon conflict.
Over 16,000 have been built between 1956 and 1987.

Boeing AH-64 Apache

The Boeing AH-64 ‘Apache’ is a twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. It has been built under license in the United Kingdom as the AgustaWestland Apache.
Nose-mounted sensors help acquire targets and provide night vision. It carries a 30 mm M230 chain gun under its forward fuselage and four hardpoints on stub-wing pylons for armament and stores (usually AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods).
The ‘Apache’ is in use with many Armies and Air Forces. Over 2,400 have been built from 1975.

Boeing CH-47 Chinook

The Boeing CH-47 ‘Chinook’ is a tandem-rotor helicopter originally developed by American rotorcraft company Vertol and now manufactured by Boeing.
The Chinook is a heavy-lift helicopter that is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters. It is in use with many Armies and Air Forces around the world.
Many versions exist and over 1,200 have been built since it came into service in 1962.

Bristol Type 171 Sycamore

The Bristol Type 171 ‘Sycamore’ was the first helicopter designed in the UK to enter production. It was also the first helicopter to serve with the Royal Air Force.
The main duties of the RAF Sycamores were as Air Ambulances (HC.10), Army communications (HC.11) and as Search and Rescue (HR.12 to HR.14). The Sycamore was also used by Belgium (3), the Royal Australian Navy (10) and German Federal Government (50).
Between 1947 and 1959, a total of 180 Sycamores were built (including prototypes and civil demonstrators).

Eurocopter AS532 Cougar

The Eurocopter AS532 ‘Cougar’ (now Airbus Helicopters H215M) is a twin-engine, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter developed by Eurocopter. The AS532 is a development and upgrade of the militarized version of the Aérospatiale SA330 Puma.
The Royal Netherlands Air Force received 17 Eurocopter AS-532U2 ‘Cougar’ helicopters between 1996 and 1997.

Eurocopter EC120B Colibri

The Eurocopter EC120B ‘Colibri’ (now Airbus Helicopters EC120 ‘Colibri’) is a five-seat, single-engine, light utility helicopter.
It has been jointly designed and developed by Eurocopter, China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), Harbin Aviation Industries (HAIG) and Singapore Technologies Aerospace (STAero) at Eurocopter France’s Marignane facility. The EC120B was assembled by Eurocopter in France and Australia.
The EC120 is used by many private individuals and companies, helicopter charter and training organisations as well as for law enforcement and government use. Between 1995 and 2017 around 700 have been built.

Mil Mi-24 / Mil Mi-35 (Hind)

The Mil Mi-24 (NATO reporting name: ‘Hind’) is a large helicopter gunship, attack helicopter and troop transport with room for 8 passengers. The Mi-24’s titanium rotor blades are resistant to 12.7 mm rounds. The cockpit is protected by ballistic-resistant windscreens and a titanium-armored tub. The cockpit and crew compartment are overpressurized to protect the crew in NBC conditions. Mi-24s can be perform close air support, anti-tank operations, or aerial combat.
The Mil Mi-24 is fast by design: the airframe is streamlined, and fitted with retractable tricycle undercarriage landing gear to reduce drag. At high speed, the wings provide considerable lift (up to a quarter of total lift).
For armament there is a wide choice: a 12.7 mm gatling gun or a twin-barrel 30 mm autocannon (Mi-24P) and a choice from several rocket launchers, multiple types of bombs, anti-air missiles, anti-tank missiles.
The Mil Mi-24/35 has been sold to the Armies and Air Forces of nearly 60 countries, and more than 2,600 have been built since 1969. The export versions, Mi-25 and Mi-35, are denoted with a letter suffix as “Hind D” and “Hind E” in their NATO reporting names.

Mil Mi-171Sh Baikal

The Mil Mi-17 (NATO reporting name: Hip) is a Soviet-designed Russian military medium multipurpose two-engine turbo-shaft helicopter. It is known as the Mi-8M series in Russia.
The helicopter has a five-bladed main rotor and a three-bladed anti-torque tail rotor. In addition to transporting troops, the helicopter can also be used to attack enemy positions.
The Mil Mi-171Sh ‘Baikal’ (NATO reporting name: Hip-H) is the export version of the Mi-8AMTSh. The Mi-8AMTSh is the armed assault version of the Mi-8AMT. It has a large door on the right side and aramid fiber plates around the cockpit area and engines. The helicopter can carry up to 37 paratroopers, 12 wounded on stretchers or airlift up to 4 tons of cargo, and is also suitable for Search and Rescue and evacuation operations. The aircraft has several self defense means. The cockpit of this helicopter is equipped with multifunctional indicators to display the map of the terrain and modern navigational and piloting equipment which operates with GPS and GLONASS satellite navigation systems. This is the most advanced export version and can be armed with various armaments. In fact, it can carry the same range of weapons as the Mi-24, including unguided weapons and high-precision armaments, in particular, anti-tank guided 9M120 Ataka or 9M114 Shturm missiles.
The Czech Air Force has 17 Mil Mi-171Sh ‘Baikal’ helicopters. World-wide a total of over 12,000 Mi-8 / Mi-17 helicopters have been delivered since 1977.

NH Industries NH90

The NHIndustries NH90 is a European medium-sized, twin-engine, multirole military helicopter. It was the first production helicopter to feature entirely fly-by-wire flight controls.
The NH90 has two main variants: the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) for army use and the navalised NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH).
It is mainly used for naval Search and Rescue, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), troop transport, special operations, various resupply and disaster relief, and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC).
A total of around 500 of these helicopters have been built.

PZL-Swidnik W-3A Sokol

The PZL-Swidnik W-3A ‘Sokol’ (English: “Falcon”) is a medium-size, twin-engine, multipurpose helicopter developed and manufactured by Polish helicopter company PZL-Świdnik. It was the first helicopter entirely designed and produced in Poland.
The ‘Sokol’ his capable of several types of helicopter missions, including passenger transport, cargo transport, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), firefighting and Search and Rescue.
Between 1986 and 2015 around 150 of these helicopters have been built, in different variants.

Sikorsky S-92A

The Sikorsky S-92 is an American twin-engine medium-lift helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the civil and military helicopter markets.
The H-92 ‘Superhawk’ is the military variant of the S-92. The S-92A is the civilian variant and is available in a number of versions.
Over 300 have been built since 1998.

Westland Lynx

The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose twin-engined military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters. It was originally intended as a utility helicopter for both civil and naval usage, but military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants. The Lynx went into operational usage in 1977, primarily serving in the battlefield utility, anti-armour, Search and Rescue (SAR) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) roles.
The Lynx is a fully aerobatic helicopter with the ability to perform loops and rolls (!). In 1986, a specially modified Lynx set an official airspeed record for helicopters at 400.87 km/h (249.09 mph) that stood for several decades.
Several land and naval variants of the Lynx have been produced and delivered to many armies, navies and air forces around the world. Over 450 have been built.
A modernised variant of the Lynx was designed as a multi-role combat helicopter, designated as the AgustaWestland AW159 ‘Wildcat’.

Westland Sea King

The Westland WS-61’Sea King’ is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 ‘Sea King’, built by Westland Helicopters. It differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines and a fully computerised flight control system.
The Westland ‘Sea King’ Mk.48 is the Search and Rescue version for the Belgian Air Force.
Between 1969 and 1995 a total of over 350 Sea Kings have been built in a multitude of variants for many Navies and Air Forces around the world.

Westland Whirlwind HAR.10

The Westland Whirlwind is a British licence-built version of the U.S. Sikorsky S-55/H-19 Chickasaw. It primarily served with the Royal Navy in anti-submarine and Search and Rescue roles.
Between 1953 and 1966 over 360 were built.
The Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 was used for transport and air-sea rescue by the RAF.