Special Capabilities of Helicopters

Helicopters have a number of unique abilities that airplanes do not have. Several of these capabilities are shown in the following videos (if you have a high-speed Internet connection, these videos are quick and fun to watch!).

The signature of a helicopter is its ability to hover over one point on the ground. While hovering, a helicopter can also spin on its axis so that the pilot can look in any direction.

Click here to download the 30-second video showing a helicopter hovering over a point and rotating. (2.0 MB)

Another unique feature of a helicopter is its ability to fly backwards. A helicopter can also fly sideways just as easily.

Click here to download the 25-second video showing a helicopter flying in reverse. (1.6 MB)

Since a helicopter can fly backwards and sideways, it can do a number of interesting tricks. The following video shows a helicopter performing a pirouette, in which it rotates 360 degrees while it travels down a straight line relative to the ground:

Click here to download the 40-second video showing a helicopter doing a pirouette (turning about its axis while flying down a straight path). (2.7 MB)

A helicopter that is flying forward can also stop in mid-air and begin hovering very quickly, as demonstrated in this video:

Click here to download the 15-second video showing a helicopter stopping quickly in mid-air. (0.9 MB)

All of these maneuvers are impossible in an airplane, which must fly forward at all times in order to develop lift from its wings (see How Airplanes Work for details).