So helicopters have relatively low maximum altitudes due to limitations in low air density. Is this because the rotors are less efficient or the engines get starved of air?
If you had two theoretical helicopters, both with identical rotors, aerodynamics, weights, etc. one with a combustion engine and one with an electric engine, could the electric helicopter fly to a higher maximum altitude because it doesn’t lose power with altitude? Or will it still have limitations due to rotor efficiency or something else not related to the engine.
Theoretically we are assuming the flight time isn’t relevant and any cooling issues with the batteries and electric motors at high altitudes have been solved without changing any aerodynamics between the two helicopters.
In: Engineering
Helicopters are limited in altitude by two things: the lift produced by the rotor and the power produced by the engine. Both of those things decrease with altitude, so both of those things limit the altitude the helicopter can reach. It stands to reason that if you remove the engine power limitation by fitting an electric motor that doesn’t lose power as you climb, being left with your maximum altitude limited only by how much lift your rotor can produce, you’ll be able to go higher.
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