Airframe Construction-Helicopters

The airframe of the Helicopter covers a wide range of materials, mainly due to the advances in technology that have taken place in the 50 years since the first helicopters were manufactured. For the most part the materials used in helicopter construction are the same as those used in fixed wing aircraft.

There are 3 (three) basic types of construction normally used for the fuselage, tail cone and pylon, these are:

• Tubular or Truss type
• Monocoque or Semi-Monocoque type, Sheet Metal Construction
• Bonded Construction  

There are two types of tubular-truss construction, known as the PRATT TRUSS and the WARREN TRUSS.  In both cases the structure is built up around longerons which provide the main strength to resist Torsional and Bending loads