Rotary Wing Aircraft Technology and Applications

The helicopter is widely used for a countless variety of civil and military tasks at relatively high costs because the ability to hover or land on a spot allows it to perform missions impractical or untimely by any other method. This capability is obtained in a machine that frequently misses the design goals, is difficult to fly, generates noise and vibration, has relatively low reliability, a relatively high accident rate, and is limited in speed. Yet today over thirty thousand helicopters are in use in the free world. Now improved technology is forecast that will couple a reduction in cost with increased speed and productivity. This rotary wing aircraft technology, when applied to production helicopters, tilt rotor aircraft, and high speed rotorcraft, will result in a major increase in both civil and military uses for rotary wing aircraft world-wide. The opportunity exists for an order of magnitude increase in the production of high technology rotary wing aircraft. Within the next decade, technology applications can correct current helicopter deficiencies (reliability, pilot workload, safety, noise and vibration) while cutting initial and operating costs by a factor of two. Also within the next decade, technology applications can permit expanded options for affordable high speed, long range rotary wing aircraft in new military and civilian roles. The helicopter has proven its utility and the opportunity for rotary wing aircraft to fulfill an expanded potential is now at hand.