Skids vs wheels

[Rwy in Sight]

Could some one explain why skidded helicopters are fewer among the newer models. As a matter of fact I can't really remember a newly produced skid-equipped helicopter and as I think more it seems skids where mainly an American thing since I can't recall a Russian helicopter non-wheeled.

So why skids are out of fashion?

[izod tester]

Not a helicopter pilot, but as an engineer, moving the aircraft around is much easier if they have wheels. My experience is limited to Whirlwind, Wessex, Puma and Chinook - all wheeled. Perhaps some helicopters with skids also have small wheels for ground handling, but I have not noticed any.

[Rwy in Sight]

I think there is a contraption for that but I don't know if it is made in the local base or is offered by the manufacturer.

[CharlieOneSix]

Certainly wheels make ground handling easier. Early helicopters were power and efficiency limited and skids were lighter than wheels - that may be the reason most of today’s designs have wheels following the demise of heavy piston engines and with today’s more efficient rotor blades and lighter turbine engines. All skid equipped helos had clip-on ground handling wheels. When we got the Bell 214ST in 1982 it came with skids and at around 12000lbs empty weight was a pig to move on clip-on ground handling wheels. We fitted a wheeled fixed undercarriage as soon as it became available.

[Rwy in Sight]

Don't skids have more drag? In a power limited helicopter drag can make a difference!

[G-CPTN]

Don't skids have more drag? In a power limited helicopter drag can make a difference!

The point was made that skids were lighter (and simpler) than wheels - and retractable wheels require more weight and complexity.

[Rwy in Sight]

Thanks gentlemen for the answers.