Based on the provided reference, the fastest helicopter listed is the Eurocopter X3.
According to the "Top 10 Fastest Helicopters" comparison from SchoolTube, the Eurocopter X3 achieved a top speed of 472 km/h. This places it at the top of their list, outperforming other notable models included in the comparison.
Here is a breakdown of the top speeds for some of the fastest helicopters mentioned in the reference:
| Rank | Helicopter Model | Top Speed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eurocopter X3 | 472 |
| 2 | Sikorsky X2 | 415 |
| 3 | Mil Mi-24 Hind | 335 |
| 4 | Boeing AH-64 Apache | 306 |
It's worth noting that aircraft like the Eurocopter X3 and Sikorsky X2 are often referred to as "compound helicopters" or "high-speed demonstrator" aircraft. They achieve these higher speeds by supplementing the lift from their main rotor with additional thrust from propellers or jets, and sometimes using wings to generate lift at speed, reducing the load on the rotor. This differs from traditional helicopters that rely solely on the main rotor for both lift and propulsion.
