Most helicopters use constant speed rotors so in practice, the angle of attack (the pitch of the blades) is the only variable. In order to maintain speed of the blades, the pilot, or a throttle governor, must increase power from the engine. Therefore,
a helicopter uses more fuel as it’s altitude increases
.
Does altitude affect helicopters?
Atmospheric Pressure – Due to changing weather conditions, atmospheric pressure at a given location changes from day to day. If the pressure is lower, the air is less dense. This means a
higher density altitude
and less helicopter performance.
Why do helicopters have a hard time flying at high altitudes?
As the helicopter climbs in altitude,
the air gets thinner, requiring the blades to work harder to generate the same amount of lift
. Most helicopter pilots consider 10,000 feet the upper limit of the ideal altitude for flying. … Helicopters can achieve flight by generating lift.
Why is it harder to fly at higher altitudes?
Generally speaking, flying at higher altitudes
means higher airspeed because of less drag
. Of course, the type of aircraft you are flying will come into play as you work with flying at different altitudes, as will the amount of weight you are carrying. But realities of aerodynamics and physics remain the same.
Can helicopters fly over mountains?
Many commercial helicopter operations involve flying in
mountainous terrain
or high altitude conditions. … With such a diverse range of mountains nearby, students will gain experience navigating elevations from 6,000 to 13,000 feet (depending on the selected training aircraft).
Does humidity affect helicopters?
Humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, which means that
when it’s more humid, you’re likely to have worse helicopter performance
, especially if it’s a very warm humid day.
Is it better to fly in high density?
Because high density altitude has a
detrimental impact
on aircraft performance. It reduces lift and impairs propeller efficiency, reducing thrust as a result. High density altitude can also decrease the engine’s power output.
Why do planes burn more fuel at lower altitudes?
Jet engines are more efficient at higher altitudes because
the cold and less dense air at this altitude efficiently
maximizes fuel burn. … Thus, the pilot is able to fly with optimum cruise speed at high-altitudes with the best fuel economy.
Do helicopters fly faster at lower altitudes?
The answer is: It
Depends
! There are two factors involved in how increasing altitude can effect an aircraft’s speed. Drag — As an aircraft’s altitude increases, the aerodynamic drag decreases. Fully 1/2 of the atmosphere is below 18,000 feet above sea level.
Can a helicopter fly to the top of Mount Everest?
Helicopters can fly higher than the summit of Everest
but landing to take on a passenger or body is dangerous. In some cases a special technique is used. … In 2005, Eurocopter claimed a helicopter landing on the summit of Everest.
Do planes fly over Everest?
Tim Morgan, a commercial pilot writing for Quora says aircraft can fly above 40,000 feet, and hence it is possible to fly over Mount Everest which stands at 29,031.69 feet. However,
typical flight routes do not travel above Mount Everest
as the mountains create unforgiving weather.
What happens if a plane flies too high?
When the plane gets too high,
there is insufficient oxygen to fuel the engines
. “The air is less dense at altitude, so the engine can suck in less and less air per second as it goes higher and at some point the engine can no longer develop sufficient power to climb.” …
Do you travel faster if you fly higher?
But a common questions is, do airplanes fly faster at higher altitudes? Technically,
no
. As altitude increases, air density decreases, which decreases engine performance but gives it better fuel efficiency. … Each airplane has an optimal cruising altitude range that is the best tradeoff of speed and fuel efficiency.
How high up do helicopters fly?
Turbine-engined helicopters can reach
around 25,000 feet
. But the maximum height at which a helicopter can hover is much lower – a high performance helicopter like the Agusta A109E can hover at 10,400 feet.
Why can’t helicopters fly to the top of Mount Everest?
The further up Mount Everest you go, the
less dense the air becomes
. … The air is just too thin for most helicopters to generate enough lift to remain airborne. If the helicopter is equipped to reach that height, making the landing is still an incredibly delicate affair.
What is the highest a helicopter has ever flown?
That’s when legendary French aviator Jean Boulet, piloting an Aérospatiale SA 315 Lama, set the world record for the highest altitude flight in a helicopter at
12,442 m (40,820 ft)
.
