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Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Evolution of the Helicopter
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May 6, 1500
Da Vinci's "Air Screw" design drawn
Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches from the late fifteenth century were the ancestor to the modern day flying machine. As with many of da Vinci’s ideas, he never actually built and tested it. -
Launoy and Bienvenue created a helicopter toy
1774- French inventor, Launoy and Bienvenue created a toy with a rotary-wing that could lift and fly and proved the principle of helicopter flight. -
First Use of the Word Helicopter
1863- the French writer Ponton D'Amecourt was the first person to use the term "helicopter" from the two words "helico" for spiral and "pter" for wings. -
First Helicopter built- Unsuccessful
1907- The very first piloted helicopter was invented by Paul Cornu in 1907, however, this design was not successful -
First Sucessful Flight By Igor Sikorsky
1939- On September 14, 1939, the VS-300, the world’s first practical helicopter, took flight at Stratford, Connecticut. Designed by Igor Sikorsky and built by the Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Division of the United Aircraft Corporation, the helicopter was this first to incorporate a single main rotor and tail rotor design. It lasted just a few seconds. -
First Helicopter With Metal Rotor Blades
1944- American inventor Stanley Hiller, Jr. made the first helicopter with all metal rotor blades that were very stiff. They allowed helicopter to fly at speeds much faster than before. -
Fist Flight Across The U.S.
1949- Stanley Hiller piloted the first helicopter flight across the United States, flying a helicopter that he invented called the Hiller 360.
