Aircraft

A helicopter comprising:

• a fuselage;
• and
• a detecting device for detecting the presence of ice caused by solidification of first supercooled liquid droplets having a characteristic first dimension above a threshold value;
• said detecting device comprising a first portion for accumulating said first droplets;
• said first portion being located so as to be visible from inside said fuselage;
• said detecting device comprising a second portion for accumulating second supercooled liquid droplets having a characteristic second dimension below said threshold value;
• said second portion being visually distinct from said first portion and located so as to be visible from inside the fuselage;
• said detecting device further comprising a body in turn comprising a surface swept by said first droplets and said second droplets;
• said surface of said body defining said first and said second portion;
• said second portion being located to the front of said first portion in the normal travelling direction of said helicopter;
• wherein said first portion is bounded between a first and second closed curve lying respectively in a first and second plane distinct from each other;
• and in that said second portion is bounded, on the side facing said first portion, by a third closed curve lying in a third plane distinct from said first and second plane;
• said body being spherical and being fixedly attached to said fuselage so that the body does not move relative to said fuselage;
• said surface comprising at least a spherical portion defining said first and second portion;
• said first, second, and third closed curves being respectively a first, a second, and a third circle having respective centers along a common first axis;
• said helicopter further comprising a support projecting from said fuselage and supporting said body at the opposite end to said fuselage;
• said support being fixedly attached to said fuselage so that the support does not move relative to said fuselage, the support comprising:
• a flange bolted to one side of said fuselage such that the flange does not move relative to said fuselage;
• and
• an arm connected to said flange and supporting said body;
• wherein said body has a second axis of symmetry parallel to said normal travelling direction of the helicopter;
• and
• wherein said first and second axis are inclined with respect to each other.