Although it was designed in the 15th century by Leonardo da Vinci, it was not until the 20th century that this invention came to life. Indeed, it was during this period that the first successful flights took place. The main challenge was to develop a sufficiently powerful motor and an effective control system to counter the complex forces generated by the rotation of the blades.
On 24 August 1907, Frenchman Louis Charles Breguet made the first “flight” of a “helicopter”with the Gyroplane Breguet-Richet No. 1. Other pioneers would follow in his footsteps and try their hand at this particular type of flight.
It was the Second World War that really stimulated the development of the helicopter, as it was an invaluable tool for reconnaissance, troop transport and medical evacuation… After the war, civilian applications for the helicopter multiplied, particularly in agriculture, construction, oil exploration and mountain rescue.
Over the following decades, the helicopter underwent constant evolution, with improvements in engine power, stability and efficiency.
It has to be said that our current helicopters have little in common with the ones illustrated in this article. This innovation has the advantage of coming after the invention of photography, which allows us to see how it has evolved.
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