Can someone tell me how a helicopter is able to lift straight up into the air?
Just wondering - heard a boy at school say helicopters can do so.
Thanks!
2007-01-13 08:30:42 · 5 answers · asked by Shauna 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
This answer is a little over simplified, but it will make sense.
A helicopter rotor blade is a wing. To get lift, air needs to move over the wing. An airplane gets air moving over the wing by pushing the body forward (think jet engines, they make more sense).
A helicoptor moves the wings (blades) through the air as the motor turns the blades. The helicoptor can lift straight up (and hover) because the lift (force pushing the blade up) is on the top side of the blade.
2007-01-13 08:42:22 · answer #1 · answered by Jeffrey C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a helicopter mechanic for the military so I can tell you all about the physics and aero dynamics of a helicopter, but in short...it does the same as a plane's wings. Air passing over the blade creates lift, lifting it straight up. If the pilot wants to turn, the whole rotor assembly leans in the direction of desired flight.
2007-01-13 17:59:33 · answer #2 · answered by Florencio P 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Think of the rotors spinning on top of the helicopter the same way a propeller spins on an airplane. The top of the rotor is built thicker at the front and slopes down to become thin at the rear. The bottom of the rotor is mostly flat from front to rear. As it spins the air traveling over the top creates a "low pressure" area, and the air traveling below the rotor creates a "high pressure" area and this allows the rotor to create "lift". All you need now to take off straight up is to change the "pitch" attitude of the rotors, and when the pilot does this one blade turns down and the other turns up. And off you go!
2007-01-13 20:47:03 · answer #3 · answered by Mark F 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Helicopters don't actually fly at all, they just beat the air into submission....
2007-01-13 23:06:58 · answer #4 · answered by baron_von_party 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lost of rpm 's on the fan
2007-01-14 07:01:58 · answer #5 · answered by shufly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋