Helicopter Transmissions, A Brief Overview of

Transmission and drivelines as they apply to helicopters are discussed including history, common configurations, and typical, industry design philosophies. A brief history of transmission used in helicopter applications is provided, including an emphasis on the flight critical nature of transmissions and drivelines in helicopter applications and how the helicopter transmission has evolved over their 100 years of service. Common helicopter drivelines are discussed for a variety of helicopter configurations (single main rotor, tandem rotor, and tilt rotor, among others), touching on typical shaft speed and horsepower ranges. Finally, typical helicopter transmission design practices are discussed for gear, bearing, and lubrication systems.