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From: dsmith@hplabsc.UUCP (David Smith)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Inventor
Message-ID: <2755@hplabsc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 14-Oct-85 13:11:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: hplabsc.2755
Posted: Mon Oct 14 13:11:47 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 15-Oct-85 20:00:39 EDT
References: <1245@daemen.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA
Lines: 14

DaVinci drew a helicopter, which was an airscrew which really looked like
a screw.

The Wright brothers got interested in flight when they were given a toy
helicopter.  It had counterrotating rotors at opposite ends of a frame,
and driven by opposite ends of the same rubber band.

Sikorsky is credited with developing the first real working helicopter.  I
believe his success was due to his development of the cyclic pitch control
and the hinged rotor.  This allowed both vertical and horizontal flight.


		David Smith
		hplabs!dsmith