Helicopter Flying Over the Peaks

About this drawing

A helicopter over the mountains can do things no airplane can. It takes off straight up, hovers in place, flies backward or sideways and lands in a tiny spot. It owes all of that to the big spinning blades on top, called the main rotor.

Each rotor blade is shaped a lot like an airplane wing. When the blades spin fast, they push air down and the helicopter rises. By tilting the blades a little, the pilot chooses which way to go.

So what is the little propeller on the tail for? As the main rotor spins, it tries to spin the helicopter's body the other way. The tail rotor pushes sideways to keep it pointed straight. Without it, the cabin would twirl around like a top.

In the mountains, helicopters are a huge help to rescue teams. They reach places with no roads and can lift an injured hiker with a winch and cable. In the United States, anyone who needs help on a trail should call 911. Rescue helicopters often carry a paramedic on board, so care can start in the air. Pilots train hard, because thin mountain air makes flying trickier.

• helicopter
• mountains
• aviation
• rescue
• clouds