What kind of engines do helicopters have?
The Jet Rangers have a Rolls-Royce 250-C20B turbine engine, which produces 420 shaft horse power. Turbine engines are commonly referred to as jet engines. They have no pistons, valves, cams, or crankshalves. Their major components are the compressor, burner, turbine, and gearbox. They burn jet fuel and turn very fast. At normal operating speeds, the engine is turning about 52,000 rpm. The Robinson has a Lycoming O-540 which produces 260 shp. This is a 540 cubic inch, aircooled, 6-cylinder, horizontally-opposed, conventional piston engine, much like the one in your automobile.
