Helicopter

A **Helicopter** is a type of rotary-wing aircraft or rotor craft. Of all rotor craft, the helicopter is the most common and is frequently used by both civilians and the military. It has made a huge impact in the New World.

## Overview

The general design of the helicopter consists of a huge rotor mounted on top of the main body. The main rotor is normally connected to two or more blades, which act like miniature airfoils. By spinning these blades about, they cause air pressure above them to be less than the air pressure below them, thereby creating lift. At the same time, by manipulating the angle and pitch of these blades, they also generate thrust.

To counter the tendency of the main body to spin in the same direction as the main rotor, the helicopter is often equipped with either a smaller tail rotor, a ducted fan or a NOTOR device to counter the torque of the main rotor. In some cases, two large rotors are spun in opposite directions such as the CH-47 Chinook.

The early helicopters relied on piston-driven engines, but these were later replaced with more powerful, reliable and streamlined turboshaft engines.

### Advantages

* helicopters are able to take off and land without the need of a runway
* they are able to hover, fly backwards and laterally, making them ideal in tight or isolated areas
* excellent handling in low airspeed conditions
* transportation of cargo is much easier by helicopter than fixed-wing aircraft

### Disadvantages

* slower speeds than fixed-wing aircraft
* loud and creates a heavy amount of downdraft when close to the ground
* not suited for air-to-air combat

## The Helicopter in the New World

The helicopter was often mistaken as some new type of 'iron dragon' by citizens outside of the Civilized Areas and the Third Civilization Area. Thought to be slower than even wyverns, it was initially dismissed as not a threat. However, this opinion would quickly change as attack helicopters such as the AH-1S Cobra and AH-64 Apache began raining havoc on Lourian ships, and troops. They would also decimate Parpaldia Empire troops as well.

The nation of Mu would also find the helicopter to be an invention of great significance. Though engineers like Myrus Leclerc were confident that their Marin fighters were faster, he still couldn't deny the fact that Mu was not yet able to produce an engine that could generate enough power to equal the turboshaft. The fact that Japan had already developed an alternate means of flight and combat, also showed just how wide the technological gap was between the two nations.

For the Gra Valkas Empire, they had tried to create rotary-wing aircraft, but like the jet fighter, they had given up due to the high cost of research and development. This lack of motivation and innovation would come back to haunt them. During the invasion of Mu, the 4th Armored Division was obliterated not only by enemy tanks, howitzers and rocket batteries, but also by anti-tank weapons fired from attack helicopters.

For Japan, the helicopter is an essential tool for transporting people and cargo, rescue, reconnaissance, and various civilian and military operations.

Interestingly enough, the Annonrial Empire has also developed rotary-wing aircraft but of a magical kind. According to Minorou, the Annonrial helicopters are just slightly advanced than what the Gra Valkans are experimenting and managed to put in practical use. They are used as a mode of public transport in the Branchel Continent, something on Earth has failed, a "Helicopter Airlines".