Helicopters are noisy vehicles by design, and most people can hear an approaching helicopter from several miles away. With that in mind, is it even possible to create a ‘stealthy’ helicopter? Chances are, you’ll get different answers depending on who you ask.
Angular body paneling can make spotting a helicopter with radar more challenging, making it stealthier in the process. This can have its advantages in certain situations, but it doesn’t make spotting a helicopter impossible. After all, anyone with working ears will still probably hear it coming.
Much of a helicopter’s noise originates at its rotor blades, which slap against the air at a very specific angle to generate lift. Adjusting this angle or modifying the vehicle’s tail can decrease the decibel level a little bit, but perhaps also the vehicle’s effectiveness at getting around.
As it would seem, limitations of modern technology make it incredibly difficult to silence a helicopter, but who knows, perhaps future technological advancements could change that.
