This survey paper intends to overview some basic scientific and technological trends related to the rotorcraft industry, as based on Eurocopter's experience, summarizing why the helicopter, with its classical architecture, is the best aircraft to perform a wide range of civil/military VTOL missions. The main phenomena (related to aerodynamics and connex disciplines) which limit the helicopter general performance and utilization are described. The progress achieved from World-War II are highlighted as well as the computational/experimental methodology used to achieve these improvements. However, since the classical helicopter approaches some natural limits, the existing advanced technologies are yet adequately handled to propose the introduction of civil/military tilt-rotor (T/R) filling the gap between helicopter and turbo-prop airplanes. This paper outlines the T/R design challenges, the scientific and technological needs as well as the framework related to the introduction of a civil T/R (economics, safety, environmental intrusion). Finally, some prospective considerations are expressed on a European programmatic logic leading to the introduction of a future European commercial T/R.
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