Helicopter design requires from the designers to make a lot of compromises and choices, sometimes affecting on positive parameters in order to improve global capabilities and performance. If these choices are made well, based on detail calculations and reliable input data, flight performances should be good and helicopter should be able to satisfactory sustain all the missions and tasks for which it is designed for. The following paper describes a shorter version of the initial design philosophy with an application to the Westland Lynx helicopter. This philosophy, of course with some specifics, could be applied in Croatia, in terms of determination of basics requirements and assumptions for making the right decision in selecting a specific ...