How To Draw A Helicopter

If you’ve ever tried to draw a helicopter, you know it can be difficult to get all the details just right.

But with some simple tips and tricks, you can learn how to draw a helicopter like a pro.

In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know to create a stunning helicopter drawing.

Table of Contents

How to Draw a Helicopter – A Step by Step Guide

Before you start this guide how to draw a helicopter, it’s important to understand the basic anatomy of this flying machine.

A helicopter comprises several parts that work together to keep it in the air.

Here are some of the essential parts of a helicopter:

Rotor blades: These large blades spin around a central shaft to lift the helicopter off the ground.
Cockpit: This is where the pilot sits and controls the helicopter.
Tail rotor: This rotor works in conjunction with the main rotor blades to stabilize the helicopter in the air.
Landing gear: The wheels that enable the helicopter to land safely on the ground.

Once you have a good understanding of these basic parts, you can start drawing your helicopter.

Here are two different styles you can try when you learn how to draw a helicopter step by step!

1. Easy Helicopter Drawing

Step 1: Sketch the Basic Shape

In this first step in our guide on how to draw a helicopter by lightly sketching the main body of the helicopter using your pencil.

Depict the body of the helicopter as a large oval

Step 2: Add Details to the Body

Next, add details to the body of the helicopter such as windshield, doors of the helicopter

Be sure to keep everything in proportion with the size of the body.

Step 3: Draw the Landing Gear

The third step of this guide on how to draw a helicopter will focus on the landing gear of your helicopter

Underneath the body, draw the landing gear. Add two sideways rectangles with a vertical line down the center.

Draw a circle at the bottom of each gear. Add a horizontal line that connects the two landing gears together.

Step 4: Sketch out the Helicopter Blades

Draw the main rotor blades extending out from the top oval shape. Make sure to add the brackets that hold the blades in place.

Step 5: Outline the Tail of Helicopter

The tail boom extends back from the rear of the body. Draw a long narrow rectangle stemming from the back.

Step 6: Depict the Tail Rotor Blades

At the end, draw a small circle for the tail rotor.

Use a ruler to draw four small lines, evenly spaced apart, that extend from the center of the circle

Step 7: Color the Picture

To finish your drawing, go over the main outlines in pen or marker.

Erase any visible pencil lines. Use colored pencils or markers to add color to your helicopter.

Try shades of green, gray, black, or navy blue. Add any other fun details you can think of like a rescue stretcher, corporate logo, or pilot in the cockpit.

2. Cartoon Helicopter Drawing

Step 1: Depict the Helicopter Body

Start by drawing a large circle in the center of your paper. This will be the body of the helicopter.

Draw small circles on top of the body to represent the cockpit windows.

Step 2: Sketch the Helicopter Tail

The second step of this guide on how to draw a helicopter will focus on the tail of your helicopter

Draw a circle inside the body for the window

Use long curve line to draw the tail of the helicopter.

Use eraser to erase extra line

Step 3: Sketch out the Landing Gear

Under the helicopter add straight vertical and horizontal lines, and also curved lines as shown the picture.

Step 4: Depict the Main Rotor of the Helicopter

Draw small rectangle at the top of the helicopter body and the curve line above the rectangle as shown the picture

Step 5: Draw the Rotor Blades

The rotors will really make your helicopter look complete. Use your rulers and vanishing points to draw Spinning blades coming off the top

Make sure the blades get smaller towards the ends and overlap each other. This creates depth and a sense of real movement.

Add shading along the edges of the blades to give them form. The overlapping lines mixed with shading gives the rotors thickness and realism.

Step 6: Shading and Coloring

Once you’ve added all the details, it’s time to shade and color your helicopter. This will help give it depth and make it look more three-dimensional.

Start by shading in the body of the helicopter with a light grey color.
Darken the cockpit windows with a black pencil or marker.
Shade the landing skids and tail rotor with a slightly darker grey than the body.
Color the headlights and doors with a bright yellow or orange.
Finally, add shading to the main rotor blades to make them stand out.

Tips for Drawing a Helicopter

If you’re feeling stuck or having trouble getting started, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Study reference images: Take a close look at pictures of helicopters to get an idea of their proportions and features.
Practice basic shapes: Before attempting a full helicopter drawing, practice drawing basic shapes like circles and rectangles to build your skills.
Use guidelines: Draw light guidelines to help keep everything in proportion and aligned properly.
Experiment with shading: Don’t be afraid to try different shading techniques to achieve the look you want.

Conclusion

Learning how to draw a helicopter is a fun and rewarding experience.

Throughout this article, we have provided detailed instructions on various techniques, from establishing basic shapes to adding intricate details.

Follow these steps and tips to create your own unique helicopter illustration.

Whether you’re drawing for fun or pursuing a career in art, this is a great project to challenge your skills and creativity.