#rotorcraft — Public Fediverse posts

Let's not get too excited people - this is just a mockup!

Anduril +Archer Aviation unveil "Thunder", an autonomous tiltrotor "loyal wingman" designed to fly alongside crewed attack helicopters (AH-64 Apache, MV-75 Cheyenne II).

Mission doctrine = autonomous "escort-wingman", a teaming concept were Thunder flies along side and takes on the parts of a mission most likely to get a helicopter crew killed. https://www.techradar.com/pro/andruil-unveils-autonomous-attack-rotorcraft-could-thunder-be-the-future-of-warfare-as-we-know-it #Aircraft #Helicopter #Military #Andruil #ArcherAviation #Thunder #RotorCraft #Wingman #TiltRotor #AutonomousAircraft #ML

USA: "Ensuring Safety in the Skies - The USFS Carding Program and Helicopter Express’ Growth"
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HeliOps has the February 15, 2026 article:
https://www.heliopsmag.com/airattack/articles/ensuring-safety-in-the-skies-the-usfs-carding-program-and-helicopter-express-growth/
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#helicopter #rotorcraft #VTOL
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Please repost.

USA: "Slackline nearly snared 2nd helicopter after deadly crash that killed Oregon family, NTSB says"

Oregon Public Broadcasting with the January 23, 2026 article:
https://www.opb.org/article/2026/01/23/slackline-deadly-crash-report/

#helicopter #rotorcraft #VTOL #verticallift #helicoptersafety

Please repost.

NASA’s Dragonfly Clears Key Tests as Titan Rotorcraft Takes Shape

Dragonfly is starting to look less like a collection of spacecraft parts and more like the rotorcraft that will fly across the surface of Titan, Saturn’s hazy moon.

https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/dragonfly/2026/07/09/nasas-dragonfly-clears-key-tests-as-titan-rotorcraft-takes-shape/

#Dragonfly #Titan #Saturn #space #science #news #rotorcraft

NASA Testing Supersonic Rotors for Mars

NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter was the first aircraft humanity has flown on another planet, and engineers are looking to make the next generation of Martian helicopters bigger and more capable. That’s challenging in Mars‘ thin atmosphere, which is only 1% as dense as Earth’s. To get adequate lift, the rotors need to spin faster there.

During Ingenuity’s mission, the team intentionally designed the craft to keep the rotor tips below supersonic speeds. But for the next mission–SkyFall–they’re looking to push the rotorcraft further. In recent tests in a Mars simulator chamber, they successfully spun the new rotors to tip speeds as high as Mach 1.08, significantly increasing the loads SkyFall could carry. (Image and video credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech; via Ars Technica)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBJNtvAyt9g

Canada: "TSB warns of dangers of IIMC in West Coast Helicopters accident report"

Vertical Plus magazine with the April 27, 2026 article:
https://verticalmag.com/news/tsb-warns-of-dangers-of-iimc-in-west-coast-helicopters-accident-report/

Please repost.

#helicopter #rotorcraft #VTOL

USA: The Vertical Flight Society's #Forum82 is the world's leading international technical event on vertical flight technology. May 5-7, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA.

Information/Registration:
https://vtol.org/forum-and-events/annual-forum-and-technology-display/

#helicopter #rotorcraft #VTOL #eVTOL #tiltrotor

Jaw-dropping helicopter display footage! Crisp shots of precision maneuvers and daring low passes — a must-see for aviation and tech fans. Short, exciting, and packed with rotorcraft action. #Helicopter #Aviation #Aerospace #Rotorcraft #Flight #Tech #Science #English
https://tube.edufor.me/videos/watch/dfc1fe64-865d-4193-bb95-b876c7e64a36

Idiot with a drone in TFR airspace almost takes out rescue chopper in Texas:

Via AvWeb:

"A rescue-and-recovery helicopter collided with a privately-operated drone while conducting emergency flood-related operations near Kerrville, Texas, yesterday (July 7). The helicopter made an emergency landing and was out of service “until further notice.” The drone was flying in violation of a Temporary Flight Restriction."

https://avweb.com/aviation-news/drone-strikes-texas-flood-rescue-helicopter-causing-forced-landing

#avgeeks #aviation #rotorcraft

Firefighting #rotorcraft shortfall prompts Bell’s 214ST reboot: https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/aircraft-propulsion/firefighting-rotorcraft-shortfall-prompts-bells-214st-reboot. Aerial #firefighting is an #aerospace niche but it is a critical one. Within that niche, #VTOL aircraft bring unique capabilities. They deliver water and retardant precisely, transport firefighters to remote areas, and perform aerial reconnaissance. VTOLs are essential assets for rapid response and effective wildfire management. 💪🚁 #aircraft #aviation #emergencymanagement #engineering #verticalflight

Halfway through the excellent Westland #Aircraft & #Rotorcraft by Graham & Smith with a great deal of detail on past projects and top-notch from Yeovil. #ICYMI Westland merged with Agusta in 2000. AgustaWestland then merged into Leonardo in 2016. 🛩️🚁 #avgeeks #aviation #aviationbookclub #aviationhistory #books #engineering #verticalflight #vtols

The #FAA made an early decision to certify #eVTOLs within its existing framework of aircraft categories: airplane, powered-lift, rotorcraft. But what initially looked like a way to streamline the introduction of these novel aircraft has gotten considerably more complicated, as reflected in the debate around the powered-lift SFAR and, now, the ambiguities surrounding special class #rotorcraft. More details in my latest story for The Air Current. #aviation #evtol https://theaircurrent.com/regulation/faa-approach-evtol-certification-leaves-regulatory-gaps-multicopters/

#NATO Awards Contracts For Next Generation #Rotorcraft Study in The Aviationist: https://theaviationist.com/2024/07/28/nato-awards-ngrc-contracts/. 🚁 #aerospace #aviation #defense #verticalflight #vtol

This hour’s random desktop background image on my #MacbookPro is this classic (and heavily Photoshopped) image that has been going around for years.

It is the “Hotelicopter” and I cannot tell you the number of people I found online that believed it was real.

Enjoy!

#avgeeks #aviation #airplanes #pilotlife #flying #airlines #travel #aircraft #helicopters #rotorcraft

NASA awards Vertical Flight Society Director of Strategy Mike Hirschberg the Exceptional Public Service Medal for "exceptional contributions to NASA's mission” to advance #AAM #rotorcraft #eVTOL #tech
VFS link: https://vtol.org/news/press-release-hirschberg-receives-nasa-exceptional-public-service-medal

NASA’s Dragonfly Rotorcraft Mission to Saturn’s Moon Titan Confirmed

NASA has confirmed its Dragonfly rotorcraft mission to Saturn’s organic-rich moon Titan. The decision allows the mission to progress to completion of final design, followed by the construction and testing of the entire spacecraft and science instruments.

https://science.nasa.gov/missions/dragonfly/nasas-dragonfly-rotorcraft-mission-to-saturns-moon-titan-confirmed/

#Titan #Dragonfly #rotorcraft #Saturn #moon #space #astrodon #astronomy #science #research #STEM #engineering

I just suck at flying #helicopters in my #XPlane #flightsim. Just tried to land a Bell 47 on an Oil Rig Platform, and the results were pretty exciting.

#avgeeks #aviation #airplanes #pilotlife #flying #rotorcraft

NASA rover finds damaged helicopter in the middle of Mars desert

It's a poignant image.

https://mashable.com/article/mars-ingenuity-helicopter-nasa-perseverance

#ingenuity #mars #desert #news #mashable #perseverance #rover #rocks #dunes #NeretvaVallis #astronomy #astrophysics #astrodon #space #science #research #engineering #STEM #helicopter #robot #accident #rotorcraft #flight #history #nasa #jpl #caltech

NASA Mars Rover Captures Ingenuity Helicopter In Final Resting Place

✍️ by Amanda Kooser writing for @Forbes

https://www.forbes.com/sites/amandakooser/2024/02/05/nasa-mars-rover-captures-poignant-photo-of-damaged-helicopter

#ingenuity #mars #news #forbes #perseverance #rover #rocks #dunes #astronomy #astrophysics #astrodon #space #science #research #engineering #STEM #helicopter #rotorcraft #flight #history #nasa #jpl #caltech

Little fun flying a nice PA-18 Super Cub around KOSH in my #xplane #flightsim on a cold, foggy #PNW day. Lots of T & Gs at Pioneer and the Ultralights strip.

“Hey Sikorsky overhead Oshkosh, this is the Super Cub behind and below you. U good?”

#avgeeks #aviation #airplanes #pilotlife #flying #helicopters #rotorcraft

I guess the AI in my #MacbookPro random desktop background generator must have picked up that I have firefighting helicopters on the brain today. This is a 2023 Global Identification Chart from HeliOps.

#avgeeks #aviation #airplanes #pilotlife #flying #helicopters #rotorcraft #firefighting

This hour’s random desktop background image on my #MacbookPro is this press release image from San Diego Fire Department of N283 Sierra Delta, one of their Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk #firefighting #helicopters.

Just take a few seconds to look at this incredible #rotorcraft. This is one BADASS fire assault and rescue machine, and without question, you need to be a seriously great chopper driver to fly right seat in it.

#SDFD #avgeeks #aviation #airplanes #pilotlife #flying

This hour’s random desktop background on my #MacbookPro is this rendering of a fictional “Hotelicopter”…there were more than a few that believed it was real.

It’s not.

#avgeeks #aviation #airplanes #pilotlife #flying #travel #airlines #aircraft #helicopters #rotorcraft

New explainer article in the @VTOLsociety's #Vertiflite magazine: "Coming to Terms: Airworthiness Certification."
https://evtol.news/news/coming-to-terms-airworthiness-certification

#helicopter #helicopters #rotorcraft #airplane #aircraft #eVTOL #ElectricVTOL #eSTOL #eCTOL #AAM #aviation #avgeek

Having a bit of #XPlane #flightsim fun tonight with the Bell Jetranger #helicopter in NYC. Departed Downtown Manhattan Heliport, took a scenic route by the Lady of Liberty, and buzzed the Observation deck of the Empire State Building. Still no good at #rotorcraft flying but practice makes perfect. I can land it now without crashing, just not exactly where I want yet.

#avgeeks #aviation #airplanes #pilotlife #flying