Inactive Tutor answered 06/13/13
In order to hover, the helicopter blades force air downward so that the reaction force on the helicopter balances the force of gravity. The magnitudes of the action-reaction force pair are equal and since the force on the air changes the air's momentum from rest to the final speed,
F = mass flow rate x final air speed
Equate this to the force of gravity on the helicopter to find the air mass flow rate.