Helicopters

Types of helicopter engines explained: why turboshafts and flat piston engines power today’s helicopters, and where radials, tip jets and electric fit.

US Army helicopters in 2026: the Black Hawk, Apache, Chinook, Lakota and Little Bird, ranked by fleet size, plus the MV-75 tiltrotor coming next.

Coast Guard helicopters and aircraft in 2026: every type in service, from the MH-65 Dolphin and MH-60T Jayhawk to the HC-130J, with fleet sizes.

What do police helicopters do? They track suspects, find missing people and take over car chases. Here is the gear they carry and what an hour costs.

Helicopters used in Vietnam, from the UH-1 Huey and AH-1 Cobra to the Chinook and Jolly Green Giant: what each did, when it arrived and how many were lost.

Military helicopters flying over your house are almost always training. Here are 8 real reasons, how low they can legally fly, and who to call.

How fast do helicopters go? Most cruise at 110 to 165 knots (125 to 190 mph). Speeds for 20 models, why rotors cap top speed, and the 249 mph record.

US Navy helicopters in 2026: the MH-60R and MH-60S Seahawks, MH-53E Sea Dragon, TH-73A Thrasher and UH-72A, plus every type the Navy retired.

Who invented the helicopter? Paul Cornu claimed the first flight in 1907, Focke built the first practical one in 1936, and Sikorsky perfected it.

The biggest helicopters in the world ranked by maximum takeoff weight, from the Mi-26 flying today to the Soviet giant that still holds the lift record.