Sally Thompson writes:

On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:41:06 +0100, Martin wrote
(in article ):

When a helicopter engine conks out there isn't another to keep it flying.


Cough Never heard of a twin-engine helicopter then? Or did you mean
rotor? Plenty of twin rotors too.

To operate over water in UK airspace a helicopter must be a twin
engine job, either one of which is enough to get it somewhere dry and
land it. Twin rotor jobs have multiple engines plus a drive shaft so
that both rotors keep turning if an engine fails, rather advisable as
the rotors intersect. Any helicopter can freewheel down to a good
("It's a good landing if you can walk away from it, if you can use the
aircraft again that's a bonus" as the saying goes) landing provided it
is high enough and/or moving forwards fast enough (There's a
height/speed dead zone) and engine failure is the only major problem.

A news editor I once worked with got several very nice meals bought
him when it was realised he'd booked the only available twin engine
helicopter able to fly out past the Scillies and film the end of some
trans-Atlantic record attempt...

Anthony