What is a helicopter and what are its uses?
A
helicopter is an aircraft that can take off and land in a small area without
having to use a runway. Further, it can hover in midair and fly forward, backward,
or sideways.
The
earliest idea of the helicopter can be traced to a Chinese toy in the 4th
century BC, which consisted of feathers at the end of a stick, which was
rapidly spun between the hands to generate lift and then released into free
flight.
In
about 1500, Leonardo da Vinci drew a design of the flying machine which we now know
as the helicopter. In the 19th century, many inventors experimented with helicopters.
In 1936, a German company finally succeeded in developing a helicopter that could fly at a height of 11,000 feet. Since then many designs of helicopters have appeared in the world.
Modern helicopters come in all shapes and sizes and perform many roles. Their versatility makes them ideal for military use. Anti-armour helicopters work on the front line, targeting enemy tanks and guns. At sea, helicopters are used for information gathering, antisubmarine warfare and air/sea rescue. They make ideal ship borne aircraft, as they can take off and land using a small area, and are easier to store than fixed-wing aircraft.
Large helicopters transport troops, equipment and supplies. They can deliver combat personnel and equipment close to the battlefront, without the need for a landing strip or airport.
The Coast Guard uses helicopters to patrol the coastline. Helicopters have numerous civilian uses as well. They are extensively used for transporting victims of shipwrecks, mountain climbing accidents and natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods to safety and for delivering medicines and supplies to stranded communities. The helicopter’s ability to hover and to land without a runway makes it an ideal rescue vehicle.
Helicopters are also used for aerial
surveys and for spraying pesticides on crops.
