Identify by helicopter characteristics

While still versions of the Bell 47, the H and J model look much different. They have an enclosed cabin with doors, and a covered engine and tail boom. The rotor system is largely unchanged.

This slender helicopter has a five-blade main rotor and a four blade tail rotor. Moreover, it has a large pylon on top of the engine/gear box housing. Most of the cabin windows are long and narrow. (photo: Zane Adams/WikiMedia)

The Cobra couples the tail boom, main rotor, tail rotor and skids of the Bell UH-1 with a new, narrower fuselage. It has a tandem cockpit with flat panels. Under the nose is a cannon, and small wings allow storage of weapons.

This large tandem rotor helicopter has two three blade rotors on top of the front and rear pylon. They are powered by two turboshaft engined, placed at the side of the rear fuselage, at the junction with the rear pylon. The fuselage has pods at the side of the fuselage, along the full length, and a rear loading ramp at the end. The fixed gear consists of two twin wheel legs at the front and two single wheel legs at the rear.

The 'other' Vertol tandem helicopter is smaller than the Chinook but is otherwise quite the same. It has sponsons though holding the fixed two wheel main gear. The engines are on top of the rear fuselage, at the side of the rear pylon.

The rotor system of the Enstrom helicopters is simple, with a long single shaft on top of which is a three blade rotor. The engine can be a piston one or a turboshaft. It is placed behind the cabin, in the fuselage. The helicopters have no vertical stabiliser, but end plates at the tips of the horizontal stabilisers.

The EC120/HC120 has a three blade main rotor and a shrouded tail rotor. Typical features are the wide rear skid attachment to the fuselage and the exhaust that is tilted to the left and up.

Essentially the EC130 is an EC120 with a wider cabin, visible at the front, with a wider and longer middle front window, and an additional square window at the bottom. The vertical stabiliser of the EC130 is low and ventral fin almost non existent. Finally, the exhaust is curved, but centered with respect to the tail boom.

The EC135/H135 has two engines, with air intakes and exhausts in the top of and flush with the streamlined fuselage. Furthermore, the EC135 has a 'standard' tube skids, a four blade main rotor and a small gear box hub.

Europe's main advanced attack helicopter has two separate canopies for the crew, one above the other. They have flat panels. The nose of the Tiger is quite pointed. The horizontal stabilisers are attached to the rear lower end of the vertical stabiliser, and both have end plates with the same sweep angle as the vertical fin itself.