# Small helicopters or other flying drones on Mars

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-helicopters-or-other-flying-drones-on-mars/641770>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 21, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-helicopters-or-other-flying-drones-on-mars/641770 "2012-11-21T21:20:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-helicopters-or-other-flying-drones-on-mars/641770/21 "2012-11-22T19:17:24Z")

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> [@md2000](#):
>
> the rotorcraft looks more feasible, though I am amazed a 1.7m rotor blade would lift 20kg in that atmosphere, even with Mars gravity.

The thin atmosphere cuts both ways. Lift is reduced, but so is drag. This is probably what makes it feasible. The craft would require very little power to drive it’s rotor at high speed, making it very light.

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