Helicopters

Helicopters are a type of aircraft that generate lift using a horizontal propeller, unlike the vertical propellers of airplanes. Using a secondary propeller to keep the aircraft from losing control due to the massive torque created by the force of the main propeller, helicopters are capable of hovering and executing delicate maneuvers that modern jet fighters are unable to do. Helicopters have been developed to serve two main roles. The helicopter’s initial, and primary, role was as a transport for ferrying troops or equipment to the front lines or evacuating them as necessary. Its second role is as a weapons platform for the support of units deployed in the [Page 624]field. The helicopter’s inherent maneuverability and its ability to hover for sustained periods allow it ...