A rotorcraft or rotary-wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air aircraft with rotary wings or rotor blades, which generate lift by rotating around a vertical mast.
In the aerospace context, a rotorcraft is a type of aircraft that uses one or more rotors to generate lift and propulsion. Rotorcraft include helicopters, tiltrotors, and autogyros.
Examples of rotorcraft include:
- Helicopters, such as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, also known as the "Huey," which was used extensively in the Vietnam War and is still in use today for a variety of civilian and military purposes.
- Tiltrotors, such as the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey, which is used by the United States military for transportation and special operations.
- Autogyros, such as the Autogyro Cavalon, which is a popular ultralight aircraft used for sport and recreation
- Drones, such as the Airbus H120 and the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, which are used for a variety of civilian and military purposes, including search and rescue, surveillance, and delivery.