Why are helicopters so inefficient?

Helicopters are quite inefficient because the majority of the fuel is used not to thrust forward, but to fight gravity. Even though planes travel much faster, they are more energy efficient than helicopters. Helicopter bodies are not all that aerodynamic, which is alright since they tend to move fairly slowly.

Can a helicopter travel from country to country?

Yes, it is very possible to travel the U.S. or the world using your own helicopter. The issue is cost. Don’t know what type of helicopter you own or would like to fly, but helicopters are not fuel-efficient in terms of Earthly miles/km per gallon/liter of fuel.

Are helicopters slower than planes?

Helicopters are undeniably slow compared to aeroplanes. There is no pure helicopter that flies faster than 400km/h (250mph), yet aeroplanes have been going much faster for a long time, and even some trains and cars can go faster.

Can a helicopter fly in a storm?

A bad weather flight is certainly possible for a helicopter when lightning isn’t a possibility. Many helicopter pilots will delay a flight if they know that lightning is a possibility. In most cases, however, helicopter pilots can land the copter safely even if it is hit by lightning.

What is the top speed for a helicopter?

An average helicopter can reach a top speed of somewhere between 130 and 140 knots, which comes out to about 160 mph. The Eurocopter X3 can reach a top speed somewhere in the neighborhood of 267 mph (430 km/hr or 232 kts) in stable and level flight.

Why are helicopters not widely used for mass transportation?

Jan Hudec’s answerhas already detailed why helicopters are not widely used for mass transportation or have been scaled up to ferry passengers more often. The few exceptions exist where landing space is limited and the helicopter’s maneuverability is more advantageous.

What is the difference between military and civilian helicopters?

When it comes to transport helicopters, there is not much that differentiates the military and the civilian ones. No doubt, instrumentation, weapon carrying capability and internal configuration may change but more or less speed-wise they will be the same.

Who uses helicopters in the US?

There are passenger helicopters, usually used by corporations or very wealthy individuals. Some companies maintain their own fleet or charter when needed (which is probably cheaper).

Why are helicopters so difficult to make?

Helicopters are also difficult to make large, because for efficiency the rotor disk needs to be large, but the diameter is again limited by the tip speed having to remain subsonic. And the material requirements to make the blades strong enough without making them too large to keep drag low.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS5eKsdRnus