Discover 14 Different Helicopter Types and Their Roles

Types of Helicopters

The different types of Helicopters are frequently used for search and rescue missions.

They are lightweight and elegant and can land in regions of necessity much more quickly than other craft for apparent reasons.

They are different types of helicopters, and they serve various purposes. Several of the helicopters on this list are used to deliver cargo.

This is especially true for military-style helicopters already equipped to transport prominent people and thousands of pounds of cargo. 

Additionally, private helicopters are designed to transport the wealthy and famous in style above landscapes and cityscapes.  

Extra space, elegant interiors, and various unique features are common aspects of these helicopters.

1. Compound Helicopters

Compound Helicopters

A compound helicopter is one of the types of helicopter that propels itself forward using a different propulsion system. 

Additionally, an additional propulsion system propels the helicopter forward, enabling even higher forward speeds in a compound helicopter.  

Forward motion is provided by a tail-mounted propeller that creates forward thrust in some compound helicopter layouts.

A turbojet engine is the most typical design for a modern compound helicopter’s forward propulsion.  

In cruising flights, the compound helicopter can reduce the speed of the main rotor and rely on additional sources of forwarding power.

This enables faster forward flying and enhances the helicopter’s range, making it more fuel-efficient. 

2. Police Helicopters

Police Helicopters
by Aircaft @ Gloucestershire Airport By James is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

In the simulators of helicopters capable of following suspects from the air, the Thin Blue Line members fly off into the Wild Blue Yonder.  

Military scout helicopters, such as the Bell series, are frequently converted or designed the same way as these helicopters.

The Los Angeles Police Department, for example, has utilized a Bell 412 helicopter, which the Royal Air Force also uses.  

Police organizations may use these helicopters to track individuals as they flee, providing crucial aerial information to squad vehicles.  

In addition, The Bell 412 is 56 feet 1 inch long, with a maximum takeoff weight of 11,900 pounds and a rotor diameter of 46 feet.

One Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D Twin-Pac or one x PT6T-3DF Twin-Pac linked turboshaft engine can reach 160 mph. 

3. Military Attack Helicopters

best Attack Helicopters
Photo by Lawrence Hookham

The primary function of this type of helicopter, sometimes known as helicopter gunships, is to fire on the adversary.

Attack helicopters are capable of reaching high speeds and are well-armed with weaponry, such as machine guns, missiles, and auto-cannons, to accomplish this goal.  

The attack helicopter is one type of helicopter that provides air support to ground forces and other aircraft.  

Typically, The Marine Corps’ primary assault helicopter is the AH-1W Super Cobra.

The Bell Helicopter AH-1W Super Cobra is an attack helicopter based on the Huey design.  

The Super Cobra was the first attack helicopter to qualify for both sidearm anti-radiation, sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and Hellfire missiles. 

4. Air Ambulance Helicopters

Air Ambulance Helicopters
by Aircaft @ Gloucestershire Airport By James is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

A medical crisis is one circumstance in which the helicopter has impacted critically injured or unwell persons.

The helicopter’s capacity to hover, land in tight areas, and fly at low altitudes made it perfect for conversion into a medical air ambulance.  

Furthermore, in most cases, an ambulance helicopter is equipped with medical equipment identical to that found in an advanced life support ground ambulance.  

The helicopter must have sufficient internal capacity to accommodate the injured or seriously ill passenger.

And also trained medical personnel to care for the patient during the journey.

5. Mars Helicopters

Mars Helicopters

The Mars Helicopter is also one of the various types of helicopters. Helicopters have even flown beyond the Earth’s and our local atmosphere’s bounds! NASA has created a MARS helicopter dubbed “Ingenuity.”  

Furthermore, it’s a small helicopter propelled by solar-powered batteries and electric motors.

Numerous obstacles had to be overcome to create this helicopter, the most significant of which was the thin Martian atmosphere.  

Furthermore, The Mars helicopter has already completed multiple test flights on the red planet’s surface.

The aircraft’s initial performance has been outstanding, exceeding the research team’s expectations.  

Additionally, the success of the Mars helicopter has paved the way for comparable, larger aircraft to be deployed to Mars and other planets in our solar system.

For thorough exploration missions that would otherwise require manned trips, which are significantly more complex and expensive. 

6. Military Transport Helicopters

Military Transport Helicopters
by U.S. Navy Seabee Museum is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The military transport helicopter is also one of the various types of helicopters.

Transport helicopters are one of the largest helicopters used to transport heavy cargo, such as light vehicles, large troops, and freight, into combat settings.  

Transport helicopters have a reasonably high-speed capability. Despite their size and the additional load, cargo planes can perform the same functions as transport helicopters.  

Landing and taking off vertically without a runway is preferable—speed is crucial in wartime operations.

Transport helicopters carry specialized equipment such as rescue hoists and rope lines are carried by transport helicopters.

It is used for dropping off and picking up personnel in challenging terrain. The Chinook is also arguably the most well-known cargo helicopter.

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a twin-engine helicopter with tandem rotors that are easily recognizable.  

The Chinook is one of the largest lifting Western helicopters deployed as the United States Army’s principal supply and troop transport helicopter.   

7. Troop Carrier Helicopters

Troop Carrier Helicopters
by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Since its conception, the helicopter has had military applications. Many nations’ defense forces recognized the benefits this type of aircraft might provide to various branches of their military forces.  

The troop carrier helicopter evolved into quickly transporting troops to a fighting zone or launching an attack. Meanwhile, an air assault is a term for troop delivery.  

Trunkers can be delivered directly to the frontlines without the requirement to land at an airstrip and then ferry them to the battleground with ground-based vehicles.  

Typically, Various versions of helicopters have been created as troop carriers, ranging from huge capacity troop carriers to tiny strike force troop carriers.  

However, various helicopters have been designed as troop carriers, ranging from huge capacity troop carriers to little strike force troop carriers.  

The helicopter can land or hover close above the ground to drop off the troops or hover at a greater altitude, and the specially trained men can rappel from the aircraft to the ground.  

8. Military Observation Helicopters

Observation Helicopters
by Official U.S. Navy Imagery is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Sensor and communication devices help intelligence collection and reconnaissance tasks on observation helicopters.

Sensor suites, communications equipment, infrared cameras, low-light television, and laser systems are all used to observe and identify targets on these helicopters.  

Observation helicopters are used for various tasks, including guiding anti-tank missiles and controlling air traffic.

Furthermore, The Little Bird is an observation helicopter crucial to military operations and made famous by modern film.  

The McDonnell Douglas MH-6 Little Bird, often known as “the killer egg,” is an uncrewed surveillance helicopter.

The main fuel tanks of the Little Bird are impervious to small arms fire, and extra fuel tanks may be mounted for an extended range. In addition 

The Kiowa is another stealth reconnaissance helicopter that is frequently used by military forces around the world.  

The Bell Helicopter OH-58 Kiowa Warrior is a four-bladed, single-engine reconnaissance helicopter with advanced weaponry, navigation, communication, and cockpit integration systems that enable day and night operations in severe weather and long ranges. 

9. Search and Rescue Helicopters

Search and Rescue
by Defence Images is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Search-and-rescue helicopters are also one of the various types used for rescue missions.

These helicopters must achieve a particularly delicate balance. On the one hand, they must be quick and agile to arrive at an accident scene as quickly as possible.  

They must, however, be able to transport a total payload of emergency equipment.

As a result, search and rescue helicopters are frequently modified versions of other aircraft with features like sliding doors or more powerful engines.  

The Sikorsky S-76C version is a superb example of this and is still utilized in this duty today.

Additionally, this type has a primary rotor diameter of 44 feet, is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 turboshaft engines, has a maximum speed of 178 mph, and has a range of 473 miles. 

10. Helitack Helicopters

Helitack Helicopters
by David A. Hofmann is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Helitack is a phrase used to describe helicopters modified to battle and manage wildfires.

These helicopters are frequently utilized in firefighting operations, and their unique qualities make them essential equipment for these services

A helibucket is a big capacity bucket slung beneath the helicopter that can be fitted on Helitack helicopters.

Submerging the bucket in a body of water, such as a lake, dam, reservoir, or river, fills it.  

Additionally, to extinguish or control the spread of the fire, the filled bucket is flown over the region of the fire, and its contents are dumped over the flames. 

Other helitack helicopters are equipped with tanks filled with water from dams, lakes, and rivers, which is pumped through a hose or a siphon while the helicopter is on the ground.  

The helicopter then flies over the fire, opening the tank doors to release water and extinguish the flames.

Helitack helicopters are typically used to transport firefighters and supplies to places impassable by road or where the fire has rendered ground-based vehicles impassable.  

Firefighters are trained to rappel down from helicopters into fire zones to tackle fires on the ground. 

11. Scientific Research Helicopters

Scientific Research Helicopters

The scientific community routinely uses helicopters to collect data on natural disasters or phenomena that are difficult to access from the ground.  

Furthermore, inaccessible areas or conditions that are harmful to approach too near ground level could cause challenges.  

In addition, A helicopter loaded with sensitive scientific equipment is the best vehicle for monitoring and collecting data on scientifically significant occurrences and circumstances without putting humans in danger.   

In this fashion, helicopters have been used to monitor and collect scientific data on volcano eruptions, tsunamis, and dangerous events like the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster. 

12. Oil Rig Helicopters

Oil Rig Helicopters

Oil Rig Helicopters are one of the various types used in the rig. It’s difficult to fly from platforms to rigs to land and back, but oil rig helicopters are up to the task.

They’re made to assist with everything from site scouting, pipeline patrol duty, and freight lifts. 

Furthermore, Because the time between flights might be brief, these helicopter operators must work fast to prepare them.

Airbus again delivers some of the industry’s most popular models, with the H135 being one of the most widely utilized today.  

However, the H135 is 33 feet 6 inches long, has a maximum takeoff weight of 6,415 pounds, a range of 395 miles, and is powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 or two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B turboshaft engines. Its top speed is 178 miles per hour. 

13. Agricultural Helicopters

Agricultural Helicopters
by cwwycoff1 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Many people do not think of agriculture as an industry that uses helicopters. However, helicopters are widely used in some farming sectors.  

Cropduster helicopters are frequently employed as a crop spraying alternative.

Traditionally, fixed-wing aircraft were used for this, but helicopters have proven helpful in this position due to their ability to fly low and slow.  

However, this capability allows the chemicals to be sprayed more precisely on the crops without the material being blown too far and broad by the wind, reducing waste and improving crop coverage.  

Helicopters are frequently utilized on big cattle farms where animals must be moved to new pastures or rounded up for transport to the market. The helicopter has taken over the function in this cowboy. 

14. Gunship Helicopters

Gunship Helicopters
by mharrsch is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Gunship helicopters are also among the various types of helicopters used by the military.

A gunship helicopter is a term that is used interchangeably with an attack helicopter, but it has a distinct difference.  

Additionally, Small troop transport helicopters were frequently armed with heavier weapons like machine guns and rocket launchers.

This upgrade allowed these helicopters to deploy troops on the frontlines and provide aerial assistance while the fighting was going on.  

However, the machine guns installed on these helicopter gunships are typically large-caliber guns with a high rate of fire.

When paired with rockets, these cannons can destroy hostile infantry and enemy vehicles, structures, and entrenchments. 

Conclusively, Without a doubt, helicopters have revolutionized the mobility of aviation and flight in general for humankind.  

Helicopters are the workhorses of the aviation sector, changing the lives of countries and communities.

By bringing disaster aid to locations where other modes of transportation were unavailable. 

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