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VIKING SQUADRON |
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Helicopters |
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The helicopter has only been with us since the end of World War II. It has many uses in agriculture, heavy lifting and hauling, and other commercial uses. Today, the big push in civil aviation helicopters is into the executive/business aviation fields. Helicopters have always had several drawbacks, which have made them unattractive to civilian operators. These shortcomings include high maintenance costs, vibrations and high noise levels, and slow cruise speeds. Advances in technology have reduced all of these shortcomings and have practically eliminated some of them. Turbine engines with greater power for a given weight have increased the range, speed and payload in modern helicopters. Better engineering has produced gearboxes with fewer moving parts and gears that run with a closer fit. This has reduced noise and vibration and has lowered maintenance costs as well. New bearings and bushings have further reduced the noises and vibrations, and more soundproofing has been added to the engine compartment and cabin. Building rotors out of fiberglass reduced maintenance costs. The latest trend is toward the use of composite materials in rotor blades. The composites have the advantage of being much stronger and lighter than earlier materials. |
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Sikorsky S-76 |