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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.
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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.
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Mikhail Lomonosov designed a small coaxial rotor similar to the Chinese lop yet powered by a wound-up spring device.
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Christian de Launoy & Bienvenu modified Mikhail Lomonosov's design by having a set of turkey flight feathers contra-rotating to take flight.
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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.
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Alphonse Pénaud would use rubber bands to power his flying toys with a coaxial rotor.
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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.
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Paul Cornu invented the first pilot driven helicopter.
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During the 1920's, Emile & Henry Berliner developed a rotor capable of moving on a horizontal plane.
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Stud welding was invented for industrial use to weld steel.
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Made by Focke-Achgelis, the Focke-Wulf Fw 61
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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.
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Skids replaced landing gear because they were easy to attach and light weight.
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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.
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Development of better plastic resins & strengthening fibers lead to the creation of carbon fiber for the engine.
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The first helicopter that was capable of stealth was made for the US in 1972.
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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.
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US military successfully constructed the first unmanned helicopter.
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In 2010 the first electric helicopter (developed by Sikorsky) was made.
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