Rotorcraft Flying Menu >Helicopter Systems > Engines

By knowing the various systems on a helicopter, you will be able to more easily recognize potential problems, and if a problem arises, you will have a better under-standing of what to do to correct the situation.

ENGINES

The two most common types of engines used in heli-copters are the reciprocating engine and the turbine engine. Reciprocating engines, also called piston engines, are generally used in smaller helicopters. Most training helicopters use reciprocating engines because they are relatively simple and inexpensive to operate. Turbine engines are more powerful and are used in a wide variety of helicopters. They produce a tremen-dous amount of power for their size but are generally more expensive to operate.