Helicopter vs Airplane free essay sample

Today, I would like to present to you on the topic, the comparison between helicopters and an airplanes. As we all know, both are an extrodinary aviation miracle. A hundred years back, who would have though of the possibility of a man flying? Thanks to the Wright Brothers, this dream is now a living marvel. Wether it is a helicopter or a plane, they both share the same purpose of making our life easier. Besides that, they both uses the same basic principle of flight which are aerofoil and the Archimedes’ principle. Although they are not entirely the same in the they apply these theories but in a way they are similar. Whether fixed or rotating the wing achieves lift due to its shape. The upper side is rounded causing passing air to accelerate. This makes the air less dense creating a low pressure compared to air below the wing which generates the lift. On top of that, both helicopters and airplanes are widely use in many different fields. Comercial, military, search and rescue, and law enforcement to name a few. Moreover, these two aviation machines are very costly in terms of maintenance, finance as well as development. Although, in the future, statistics shows that the aviation industry will grow drastically. This shows that both are vital elements in the everlasting growth of our future. On the contrary, or the differences if you may, is that a airplanes generate lift by moving through the air while helicopters rotate their wings allowing them to generate lift without forward motion. To fly, helicopters have a propellers while airplanes have an engine that provides thrust to push it through the air, which forces air over the wings and create lift that allows the plane to climb. Helicopters have a main propellor blades that turn about a vertical axis. This large rotor provides the lift and forward motion to the helicopter. They also has a smaller rotor at the tail that counter acts the torsional forces created by the torque of the main rotor. Apart from that, the disadvantage of helicopters are speed and capacity. Speed is limited by the retreating wing or blade. Forward airspeed and blade speed combined cannot exceed the speed of sound. Capacity is limited due to the energy required in rotating the blades and its resultant drag. Fixed wing aircrafts on the other hand, require less power for lift as they take advantage of forward momentum. This means that they are capable of greater speed, higher load capacity and improved fuel consumption. This will then result to a much cheaper operating costs compared to a helicopter. Although, obviously because of its ability to hover helicopters have the advantage of landing in small spaces and hover in the event cargo or personnel need to be hoisted or inserted. This definitely could not be done by an airplane. Because of its dependant on the lift generated by an enough flow of air at a certain velocity, airplanes need a long runway. Meaning to say, it is not as versatile as a helicopter when it comes to landing and take off. Other minor differences between a helicopter and an airplane are airplanes can travel a longer distance in a single flight compared to a helicopter. Airplanes travel in a greater speed and they actually glide trough the air which make them fly smoother and capable of achieving great distances. On the other hand, helicopters do not travel as fast and as smooth. Besides that, most helicopters do not have wheels, they have these frames instead to support their body. Whereas most airplanes have wheels unless they are amphibians or they are in the cold regions where they land on snow. All in all, I personally in love with both of this aviation marvels. Despite their differences they both share the same most important aspect of all. To serve and help us in our life. I think the differences are the things that made them special in their own way. Hope that you enjoy the presentation and thank you for your time. HELICOPTER VS AIRCRAFT Let me expose you all with the differences and similarities between the airplane and helicopter. Airplanes and helicopters are both important forms of air travel, but there are great differences between them. The first major difference between airplanes and helicopters is their shape and design. Airplanes, for example, have long; slender bodies with wings while helicopters have round bodies and propellers rather than wings. Another difference between airplanes and helicopters is their speed. Airplanes can travel extremely fast. Helicopters, on the other hand, are much slower than airplanes. A plane must have some type of foward motion to gain airflow over the wings to thus create lift. Where as the helicopter can simply rotate its main rotor (wings) in a circle to create lift, without needing to have a foward motion. But of course with these differences in designs, they both have different positives and negatives. Such as a chopper can hover, and plane cannot (generally). Although a plane can often fly faster, and higher than a chopper. So depending on your role requirements, either choppers or planes would be better suited. A plane must have some type of foward motion to gain airflow over the wings to thus create lift. Where as the helicopter can simply rotate its main rotor (wings) in a circle to create lift, without needing to have a foward motion. But of course with these differences in designs, they both have different positives and negatives. Such as a chopper can hover, and plane cannot (generally). Although a plane can often fly faster, and higher than a chopper. So depending on your role requirements, either choppers or planes would be better suited. Helicopter is rotary wings aircraft where wings will rotate while aeroplane is fixed wings aircraft where wings are fixed. Helicopter can hover and can fly backward direction and can make vertical take off. While aeroplane can not hover amp; fly back ward, and generally they are horizontal take off machine (Some vertical take off model are also available). Helicopter can not fly at very high speed and at very high altitude compare to aeroplane. For same take off weight amp; to cover same distance fuel consumption of helicopter is much higher than aeroplane. Aeroplane need a smooth terrain (Runway) to land and take off, while helicopter can land and take off in rough terrain also. Due to higher number of rotating parts vibration in helicopter is much higher in helicopter compare to aeroplane. Seat Ejection is possible in fighter aeroplane which is not possible in helicopter. An airplane has to always move forward in order t keep air flowing over the wings, which is what keeps it in the air. A helicopter can hover, meaning it doesnt need to always be moving forward, because its blades move, keeping the air flowing over them. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters both generate lift by using one or more engines to drive a wing or wings (a rotor blade is nothing more nor less than a specialised type of wing) through the air. When the amount of lift generated overcomes the force due to gravity acting on the aircraft (helicopters are aircraft too! ) the aircraft flies. Because the wings on a fixed-wing aircraft are fixed the whole aircraft has to move through the air with the wing whereas a helicopters rotor derives its lift independently of the motion of the the rest of the airframe. And that is the key difference and explains why a helicopter can hover but a fixed-wing aircraft cannot. Airplanes and helicopters is their direction of takeoff and flight. Airplanes take off horizontally and can move in a forward direction only. They need a lot of space for takeoff and landing. Airplanes regularly carry several hundred passengers. Helicopters, however, take off vertically and can move in any direction. Helicopters require a very small takeoff or landing space, and most helicopters carry only two to five passengers. Because of the great differences between airplanes and helicopters, each is used for a specific purpose. Airplanes and helicopters, therefore, are both important forms of air travel. The similarities are they are both operated and fly in the air,both of them cause noises,its convenient for people to go long distances in them and they are very expensive. In conclusion, both have their own advantages and disadvantages and both plane and helicopters have its own pros and cons, depending on your role requirements.