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
Reducing air density at high altitude and the ability of the rotor blades to create lift are a bigger issue than issues with turbine engines losing power vs electric motors.
In theory, you can just use a bigger turbine engine to offset the loss in power output.
Source : a wild guess.
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