Seen from a helicopter system works entirely rely on either the main rotor blades to fly or float. So it is not surprising that the helicopter does not have the speed like a jet. But there are some helicopter that are designed specifically for fly at high speed. Here we will discuss a row of helicopters on record as the fastest helicopter in the world:
4. MIL MI-24 HIND
In the middle of the 1960s, while the western countries were looking the helicopter mainly as a transport and rescue machine, the Soviet Army look at them as the air counterpart of the battle tanks. Mil Mi-24 "Hind" is one of the greatest works of the Soviet Union (now Russia). Heli made by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and was designed by Mikhail Mil Leontyevich. It comes with the "2in1" principle, like an APC (armored personnel carrier) that can carry infantry into battle, the Hind also could act as a flying tank with heavy weapons that can destroy confronting the enemy. Remarkably, the Hind can do so without having to sacrifice one of its functions earlier.
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| MI-24D with side by side pilots placement. (Picture from: http://www.maxwolf.ru/) |
The Hind was built off the older Mi-8 Hip and Mi-14 Haze helicopters hand measures 57 feet long, 21 feet wide, and 21 feet tall. The HIND wasn't built for comfort, it was built for speed. It features a pair of top-mounted Isotov TV3-117 turboshaft engines driving a 57-foot wide, five-blade main rotor with a three-blade on the tail. This new helicopter, designed primary as an anti tank weapon began tests in 1970 and was seen for first time by NATO in East-Germany in 1972. The first versions uses a standard helo cockpit with pilots side-by-side under a single piece of bulletproof glass but in 1975 would appear the Hind-D with the iconic "double bubble" canopy.
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| Base Mi-24V variant with the iconic "double bubble" canopy. (Picture from: http://www.maxwolf.ru/) |
This heavy armed helicopter versions were in service in those years when the Mil bureau start working in a new prototype called A-10. FAI records set by the A-10 an experimental variant of the 'Hind' gave some indication of the type's capabilities, as when on September 2, 1978 over a 15/25km course it achieved a speed of 228.9 mph (368.4 kph).
3. WESTLAND LYNX 800 G-LYNX
Westland Lynx 800 G-Lynx is a British helicopter designed and manufactured by AgustaWestland. This is the 3rd fastest helicopter and was ranked '50s the world's fastest aircraft. The Lynx was the world's first fully aerobatic helicopter.
On August 11, 1986, the former company demonstrator Lynx, registered G-LYNX, was specially modified with Gem 60 engines and BERP rotor blades with a record top speed of 249.1 mph (400.87 kph or Mach 0.3) beating the record held by a modified Mil “Hind” helicopter by over 20 mph (32 kph). It's the current Fédération Aéronautique Internationale's official airspeed record for helicopters.
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| Westland Lynx 800 G-Lynx. (Picture from: http://www.agustawestland.com/) |
The Lynx helicopter, registered G-LYNX, flew a 15km course across the Somerset Levels at 500 ft on a calm hazy evening with Chief Test Pilot Trevor Egginton at the controls and Derek Clews, Flight Test Engineer alongside. Westland Lynx is usually used for SAR, strategic transport, air support, anti-submarine, etc.
2. SIKORSKY X2
Sikorsky X2 is a demonstrator aircraft developed by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies. This light tactical helicopter can be deployed in a range of military missions. The multimission capabilities of the X2 allow it to conduct attack, armed reconnaissance, close-air support, combat search and rescue (SAR) and unmanned operations.
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| Sikorsky's X2 Technology high-speed helicopter demonstrator has reached 181kt on its way to the target of cruising at 250kt. The coaxial-rotor helicopter has been cleaned up for the high-speed runs, with rotor-hub fairings and retractable landing gear. (Picture from: https://www.aviationweek.com/) |
"In June 2005, Sikorsky Aircraft announced the development of an integrated suite of technologies known as X2 Technology." The X2 incorporates advanced technologies. The aircraft is fitted with an integrated fly-by-wire system. The system allows the engine, rotor and propulsor to operate efficiently, with full control of rotor rpm during the flight envelope.
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| Sikorsky X2's Pusher propeller. (Picture from: http://rotatingcomposites.com/) |
The demonstrator also features high lift-to-drag rigid blades, low drag hub fairings and an active vibration control mechanism. The aircraft can be used as a flying wind tunnel to find out the aerodynamic interaction between the main rotor and propeller, shaft angle optimisation for performance and blade tip clearance for a range of manoeuvres.
With speed was achieved on the flying test, X2 has managed an unofficial record as the fastest helicopter in the world. At the trial of 15 September 2010, Sikorsky X2 successfully drove at speeds up to 460 kph (285 mph) in stable flight. Even helicopters can take 480 kph (298 mph) on the flight at an angle slightly decreased.
Experimental helicopter is designed to demonstrate that a helicopter can go comfortably at a speed of 463 kph (about 288 mph - the maximum speed target) while maintaining the ability of such low-speed handling, efficient hovering with the transition to high speed and smooth and simple. (Jump to - The World's fastest Helicopters.) *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MIL | AGUSTAWESTLAND | SIKORSKY | ARMY-TECHNOLOGY.COM]
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