A helicopter has a low profile electric motor mounted in each of the rotor blades to drive a cross-flow fan which draws air in through a slot at the leading edge of the blade and forces it out through an opposing slot adjacent the trailing edge of the blade to provide the thrust for rotating the rotor blade. An engine is located in the fuselage of the helicopter for driving an electric generator to produce the electricity supplied to the motors mounted in the blades. In addition, yaw control is achieved without the necessity of tail structure or a tail rotor using a small electric motor driving or absorbing power from the main rotor shaft. Both the yaw control motor and the main rotor shaft tilt together as a rigid unit. Pitch and roll control is achieved without the necessity of aerodynamic surfaces by movement of the main rotor support mast about a gimbal bearing support located above the center of gravity of the helicopter.