10 FUN FACTS ABOUT HELICOPTERS | BAROSSA HELICOPTERS

Helicopters can hover, fly backwards and land in places planes cannot, which makes them some of the most useful aircraft in the world. At Barossa Helicopters, our family-owned team works with these aircraft every day. Here are 10 helicopter facts, from Mars to Mount Everest, that might surprise you.

1.Helicopters Can Fly Backwards

Helicopters can fly forwards, backwards and sideways, and they can hover in one spot. Pilots do this by changing the angle of the rotor blades as they spin. This changes how much lift the blades make and which way the helicopter moves.

2. The Term “Helicopter” Comes from Greek

The word Helicopter, combines helix, meaning spiral, and pteron, meaning wing. Together they mean “spiral wing”. French inventor Gustave de Ponton d’Amécourt first used the word, in French, in 1861.

3. Helicopters Have Flown On Mars

NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter made the first powered, controlled flight on another planet on 19 April 2021. It was built for five test flights and completed 72 before its mission ended in January 2024.

Closer to home, helicopters also help bring astronauts back to Earth. After the Artemis II splashdown in the Pacific Ocean in April 2026, US Navy helicopters lifted the crew from the water.

4. They Can Land Almost Anywhere

Helicopters do not need a runway. They only need a suitable, safe and approved landing area. This is why they are so valuable for medical flights, search and rescue, and reaching remote places.

5. The Modern Helicopter Design Began in 1939

Igor Sikorsky’s VS-300 made its first flight on 14 September 1939, tied to the ground with cables. It made its first free flight on 13 May 1940. It was the first successful helicopter in the United States with one large main rotor and one small tail rotor, the layout most modern helicopters still use today.

6. Pilots Train fo Engine Failure

If a helicopter’s engine stops, the rotor blades keep turning as air flows up through them. Pilots use a technique called autorotation to control the descent and land. It is a standard part of pilot training. Learn more from our blog "AUTOROTATION"

7. Rotor Blade Tips Move at Over 700km/h

The tips of a Robinson R44 main rotor move at up to about 770 km/h (480 mph). The helicopter itself flies much slower. The blade tips must stay below the speed of sound, which is one reason helicopters cannot fly as fast as aeroplanes.

8. Mount Everest Landing

On 14 May 2005, French test pilot Didier Delsalle landed an AS350 B3 on the 8,848 metre summit of Mount Everest. It is the highest helicopter landing on record. Our fleet includes an AS350 from the same helicopter family.

9. They’re Lifesavers

Helicopters are often called upon for lifesaving missions, including airlifting patients to hospitals, firefighting, and delivering supplies during disasters.

10. They Play a Role in Everyday Fun

From scenic tours and luxury transfers (like ours!) to sporting events and even movies, helicopters add a touch of excitement and adventure to our daily lives.

Helicopters are more than just machines, They combine science, engineering and a little bit of art to do some amazing things.

Ready for your own helicopter adventure? Barossa Helicopters has been family-owned since 1986 and offers scenic flights over the Barossa Valley and experiences across South Australia.