How Does a Helicopter Fly?

Tsafrir Jeff Aviezer, the former president of EA Builders, has spent more than 20 years working in the contracting and construction industry. Over the course of his career, he has overseen public works, custom homes, and acoustical renovation projects. In addition to his construction industry work, Tsafrir Jeff Aviezer holds a commercial helicopter pilot license.

Although helicopters look very different from airplanes, the science behind keeping them in the air is the same. The rotating blades of a helicopter generate lift, the force that pushes aircraft upward and keeps them airborne. 

On a plane, lift is created as air moves around the wings as the plane goes forward at a high speed. Since helicopters have rotating blades, they do not need forward motion to create lift and remain airborne. The rotating blades give helicopters the ability to hover in the air, which is impossible for planes.

Helicopters can also move upward and downward depending on the position of the rotor. The tail rotor plays a role in improving maneuverability, producing sideward thrust to help the helicopter turn smoothly.