Powerplant

Rotorcraft Flying Menu > Introduction to the Helicopter > Powerplant

A typical small helicopter has a reciprocating engine, which is mounted on the airframe. The engine can be mounted horizontally or vertically with the transmis-sion supplying the power to the vertical main rotor shaft. [Figure 1-6]

Figure 1-6. Typically, the engine drives the main rotor through a transmission and belt drive or centrifugal clutch system. The antitorque rotor is driven from the transmission.

Another engine type is the gas turbine. This engine is used in most medium to heavy lift helicopters due to its large horsepower output. The engine drives the main transmission, which then transfers power directly to the main rotor system, as well as the tail rotor.