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400 BCE
Bamboo Flying Toys
In 400 BC Chinese children played with a toy known as the "Bamboo Flying Toy." These toys flew by spinning the rotor with a rolling stick, the spinning creates lift and the toy takes flight. -
Jan 1, 1480
Aerial Screw
Famous inventor Leonardo Da Vinci invented the "Aerial Screw." The aerial screw would have said to been powered by 4 men turning cranks to rotate the shaft. The aerial screw was also 15 feet in diameter. -
Mikhail Lomonosov
Mikhail Lomonosov designed a small coaxial rotor similar to the Chinese lop yet powered by a wound-up spring device. -
Christian de Launoy & Bienvenu
Christian de Launoy & Bienvenu modified Mikhail Lomonosov's design by having a set of turkey flight feathers contra-rotating to take flight. -
Gustave de Ponton d'Amécourt
Gustave de Ponton d'Amécourt invented a flying machine powered by steam with a new innovative use of aluminium, yet the model never lifted off the ground. -
Alphonse Pénaud
Alphonse Pénaud would use rubber bands to power his flying toys with a coaxial rotor. -
Enrico Forlanini
Enrico Forlanini modified Gustave de Ponton d'Amécourt's design and had the helicopter lift 12 meters (40 feet) off the ground where the helicopter hovered for 20 seconds before failing. -
Paul Cornu
Paul Cornu invented the first pilot driven helicopter. -
Emile & Henry Berliner
During the 1920's, Emile & Henry Berliner developed a rotor capable of moving on a horizontal plane. -
Welding
Stud welding was invented for industrial use to weld steel. -
Focke-Wulf Fw 61
Made by Focke-Achgelis, the Focke-Wulf Fw 61 -
Igor Sikorsky
Igor Sikorsky invented the VS-300. A helicopter that has become the fundamentals of helicopter design. The helicopter had a tail rotor to oppose the spin when the main rotor was turned on. -
Helicopter Skids
Skids replaced landing gear because they were easy to attach and light weight. -
Sikorsky MH-53
The Sikorsky MH-53 also known as the Pave Low was a helicopter developed by Sikorsky was invented and used for long range combat search and rescue operations. -
Improvement
Development of better plastic resins & strengthening fibers lead to the creation of carbon fiber for the engine. -
Stealth Helicopter
The first helicopter that was capable of stealth was made for the US in 1972. -
V22-Osprey
The V22-Osprey was invented in 1989 and can use a short take off and landing system or a vertical take off and landing system is made possible by it's dual propellers that rotate to vertical or horizontal angles. -
Remote Control Helicopter
US military successfully constructed the first unmanned helicopter. -
Electric helicopter
In 2010 the first electric helicopter (developed by Sikorsky) was made.