Who invented the helicopter

It is believed that centuries ago the Chinese made ​​toy helicopters, but the first major design helicopter was developed in 1489. great painter and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. In his designs used helical wing (right), which provides an air force vvinchivayas in the air like a screw. True, the Italian genius created only

 

For the next hundred years, many people were involved in designing helicopters. Some of these models were fantastically complicated, some simple, but very few of them could fly. The hardest thing was the fact that there was no power, but light engines. This engine was made only during the First World War. He has allowed to design a helicopter that took off with a man aboard. In 1909 and 1910, Igor Sikorsky built the two helicopters.

One of them could raise its own weight. In late 1917, two Austro-Hungarian officer designed a helicopter to replace the captive balloon observations. He made several takeoffs at high altitudes, but that the helicopter could not maneuver. Continued work on helicopters in many countries. But none of the machines did not meet expectations of designers.

In 1936, in Germany it was reported that the company Focke-Wulf had made a successful design of the helicopter. In 1937, he flew over the whole country with a speed of 70 miles per hour and at an altitude of 335 meters. In 1940, Sikorsky has demonstrated its first operating the helicopter. The helicopter was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1942.