What type of aircraft obtains its lift from the rotation of overhead blades?

The correct answer is a helicopter because it generates lift through the rotation of its overhead blades, which are referred to as rotor blades. Unlike fixed-wing aircraft, which rely on the forward motion of the fuselage to create lift over their wings, helicopters can hover, ascend, and descend vertically, allowing them to move in various directions while remaining stationary in the air. This unique capability comes from the way the rotor blades create a pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces as they spin, effectively generating lift.

In contrast, jet aircraft utilize engines to propel themselves forward, relying on their wings to create lift due to air flowing over and under them. Gliders, while they can soar for long distances, do not have engines and rely on thermals and currents to stay aloft, depending entirely on aerodynamics rather than powered lift. Blimps are lighter-than-air craft that achieve lift through the buoyancy of the gas inside their envelopes, which is fundamentally different from the lift mechanism of a helicopter’s rotating blades.