A helicopter is a type of _____ aircraft.

A helicopter is a type of _____ aircraft.

• A. Fixed-wing
• B. Rotary-wing
• C. Lighter-than-air
• D. Seaplane

Answer: (B)

Helicopters are rotary-wing aircraft—the lift comes from rotating blades (the main rotor) that spin to generate lift and allow vertical takeoff, hover, and versatile flight. Fixed-wing aircraft rely on stationary wings to produce lift and require forward motion to generate enough lift, so they can’t hover like a helicopter. Lighter-than-air craft use buoyancy from lighter-than-air gas, not rotor lift, and seaplanes are defined by their ability to operate on water (and can be either fixed-wing or rotary-wing). The defining feature here is lift produced by rotating blades, which makes the helicopter a rotary-wing aircraft.

Helicopters are rotary-wing aircraft—the lift comes from rotating blades (the main rotor) that spin to generate lift and allow vertical takeoff, hover, and versatile flight. Fixed-wing aircraft rely on stationary wings to produce lift and require forward motion to generate enough lift, so they can’t hover like a helicopter. Lighter-than-air craft use buoyancy from lighter-than-air gas, not rotor lift, and seaplanes are defined by their ability to operate on water (and can be either fixed-wing or rotary-wing). The defining feature here is lift produced by rotating blades, which makes the helicopter a rotary-wing aircraft.