Helicopters come in a variety of configurations, each designed to meet specific requirements or address unique challenges. While many of the traditional configurations (like the single main rotor with tail rotor) have become common, there are several less typical designs that are considered rare or unique in the world of rotary-wing aircraft. Here are some examples of such rare types of helicopters:

1. Tandem Rotor Helicopters:
   • e.g., Boeing CH-47 Chinook, Piasecki H-21
   • These helicopters have two large horizontal rotor assemblies mounted one in front of the other, providing balanced lift.
2. Coaxial Rotor Helicopters:
   • e.g., Kamov Ka-50 Black Shark, Sikorsky S-97 Raider
   • These have two rotors mounted on the same axis but spin in opposite directions. This design eliminates the need for a tail rotor.
3. Intermeshing Rotor Helicopters (Synchropters):
   • e.g., Kaman K-MAX, Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri
   • These helicopters have two rotors that mesh without colliding, typically mounted side-by-side on a slight angle.
4. Tip Jet Helicopters:
   • e.g., Sud-Ouest Djinn, Hiller YH-32 Hornet
   • These helicopters use jets at the rotor blade tips for propulsion, eliminating the need for a tail rotor.
5. Tiltrotor Aircraft:
   • e.g., Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, AgustaWestland AW609
   • Not strictly a helicopter, these aircraft can convert between vertical lift like a helicopter and forward flight like an airplane.
6. Single Main Rotor without Tail Rotor:
   • e.g., MD Helicopters MD 900/902, which uses the NOTAR (NO TAil Rotor) system. Instead of a tail rotor, these helicopters use a fan inside the tail boom to produce a boundary layer flow of air over the tailboom to counteract the main rotor’s torque.
7. Compound Helicopters:
   • e.g., Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne, Sikorsky S-69/XH-59A
   • These helicopters combine rotors for vertical lift with wings and thrust-producing propellers or jets for faster forward flight.
8. Gyrodyne or Rotorcycle:
   • e.g., Fairey Jet Gyrodyne, McDonnell XH-20 Little Henry
   • A blend of helicopter and autogyro, these designs typically feature a powered rotor for takeoff and landing and a separate propulsion system for forward flight.
9. Flying Crane Helicopters:
   • e.g., Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe, Mil Mi-10
   • These are designed specifically for carrying heavy loads externally.
10. Quadcopter (or multirotor) Helicopters:

• While common in the drone world, larger manned versions like the EHang 216 are less typical but represent a growing interest in urban air mobility.

Each of these designs addresses specific challenges or operational needs, from high-speed flight to heavy-lift capabilities. As technology continues to evolve, it’s likely we’ll see even more unique and specialized helicopter configurations in the future.

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