The Focke-Wulf Fw 61 was the first successful, practical, and fully controllable helicopter in 1936, while in 1942, the Sikorsky R-4 became the first helicopter to reach full-scale production.

Feb 5, 2026 · A helicopter is an aircraft with one or more power-driven horizontal propellers or rotors that enable it to take off and land vertically, to move in any direction, or to remain stationary in the air.

Download Rotor to receive all the latest information about our civil and military helicopters and to get the latest news from the thousands of operators who carry out vital missions every day. Available in …

One thing that has characterized the helicopter since its invention in the 1930s has been the absurdity of the machine. The contraption simply looks unable to deliver on its promise, which is to fly up and …

A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally-spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, hover, and fly forward, backward, and laterally.

Helicopters are a type of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft and a class within the broader category of rotorcraft. They can take off and land from almost anywhere on the ground or at sea, …

Oct 23, 2025 · Since practical flights began in the 1930s, helicopters have split into clear categories: light trainers and patrol craft, medium EMS and police models, and heavy platforms for troop and …

As an aircraft, the primary advantages of the helicopter are due to the rotor blades that revolve through the air, providing lift without requiring the aircraft to move forward. This lift allows the helicopter to …

AIRO is your hub for aviation in Kansas City. From professional pilot training to exciting helicopter tours, we're on a mission to make flight accessible for everyone.

Apr 17, 2025 · At the heart of every helicopter is a remarkable feat of engineering – the spinning rotor system that generates the lift to overcome gravity and propel the aircraft through the air.