Are helicopters faster than airplanes

Are helicopters faster than airplanes ?

This post contains affiliate links, which means we’ll receive a commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.Read the Disclosure here.

Recently, we had a birthday party celebrated on a helicopter.We were having many questions in our mind one of them being Are helicopters faster than aeroplanes?.

I did a bit of Research and Figured out a few amazing facts… check it out…

Are helicopters faster than aeroplanes

No helicopter can be as fast as fixed-wing aircraft. It’s simple physics. 

The airspeed over the rotor cannot be supersonic. When you hear the cracking noise of a helicopter (quite distinctive ), the rotor blade tips are approaching supersonic speeds.

The aeroplane is indeed faster than a helicopter. The helicopter has a turboprop engine. 

The power of the engine is used to produce lift by its main rotor and the same engine provides some thrust to move forward as you could see there is some exhaust structure on the top of the helicopter.

But helicopters are made for more flexible uses as they could land on many surfaces that aeroplanes couldn’t.

Which one is faster? Aeroplane or helicopter

The aeroplane is faster than a helicopter. The helicopter has a turboprop engine. 

The power of the engine is used to produce lift by its main rotor and the same engine provides some thrust to move forward as you could see there is some exhaust structure on the top of the helicopter.

An aeroplane by far. 

A helicopter can only go as fast as its trailing main rotor blade before it starts losing lift. When it loses lift the helicopter starts to roll on the side where the lift is lost.

The lift is lost because the blade is travelling the same speed as the helicopter thus no lift.’

Its been  known that the top speed of one the best helicopter Eurocopter is around 430 km/h whereas the average top speeds of aircraft like B777, B787, A380, A350, B747 is 900 km/h

However, helicopters are made for more flexible uses as they could land on many surfaces that aeroplanes couldn’t.

What’s the speed Helicopter fly?

Most helicopters fly between 100–150 knots. Most training aeroplanes fly 90–135 knots. The fastest ‘copters can fly 200 knots like the AH-64, Eurocopter and some of the Russian attack helicopters.Jet’s and turboprop aeroplanes fly over 300 knots.

What is the speed Limiting factor of a heli?

The primary limiting factor on a helicopter’s speed is that when the retreating blade of the rotor gets close to the forward speed of the helicopter, the blade’s lift gets cancelled by the forward speed of the helicopter and the helicopter is only generating lift from the advancing blade.This creates a very uneven lift and will roll the helicopter.

The maximum theoretical speed of any true helicopter is about 275 mph,Augmented thrust or contra-rotating rotors can up this to about 285 mph.

It all depends on rotor diameter and rotor rpm.The average usual max speed is closer to about 180–225 mph. Most aeroplanes can fly faster than that.

No helicopter can be as fast as fixed-wing aircraft. It’s simple physics.The airspeed over the rotor cannot be supersonic. 

When you hear the cracking noise of a helicopter (quite distinctive ), the rotor blade tips are approaching supersonic speeds.

Resources:

helicopter Physics for speed

About Us

Since we started the OutdoorFizz blog site, we have jumped at the chance to be researchers, bloggers, and influencers.

A blog site of family outdoor adventures, Sports including Golfing, skiing, surfing, running , plus gear reviews and Fitness by Manny and Div, offering tips and information, photos, gear reviews, and expert tips-planning advice on outdoor adventure & Fitness.

Manny Acharya & Div Acharya
Savvy Bloggers & Influencers