History of the Helicopter (1952)

Examines the historical development of different helicopter concepts that led to the final practical design, and discusses the helicopter's control mechanisms.
We digitized and uploaded this film from the A/V Geeks 16mm Archive. Email us at [e-mail] if you have questions about the footage and are interested in using it in your project.

[@Spitznock]

It's amazing how easy to follow these old presentations are.

[@jimbomclimbo7467]

I think it's because these dont really talk down to you while a lot of newer documentaries do. At least that's how it is for me

[@GALENGODIS]

I thin it's because they where smarter back then. Logic reasoning was something that was privileged.

[@gabwestd9304]

no pronouns in bio back then either😊

[@jesusa_ikher]

​@@gabwestd9304 If you ever take a grammar book, you'll be very surprised... I should know that I have a c2. A lot of Anglo-Saxons seem to know their language worse than non-english people. Don't bring your retrograde ideas into a doc about helicopters

[@NrmalPersn]

That jumping car was amazing you could tell that dude was like "it's going to work flawlessly and I'll be famous"

[@Alucard45000]

Helicopter*

[@dddf27]

@@Alucard45000 its looks like boucing car than helicoper lol

[@kevinthekid9623]

Plot twist: the (umbrella jumping car) was actually a early version of a low rider with hydraulics.

[@NrmalPersn]

@@kevinthekid9623 cool I didn't know that

[@sizzle3622]

@@Alucard45000 sky car*

[@SMGJohn]

This is how you make an interesting, detailed history video about something without telling the viewer to hit the sub button every 5 minutes.

[@markrice23]

Pretty sure they didn't have subscribe buttons when this was made

[@meowforever330]

r/woooosh

[@markrice23]

@@meowforever330 the only thing going over my head is my stunt helicopter 👍

[@KipTM]

@@meowforever330 go back to reddit

[@jannadrielcervo7753]

Even more fascinating is that the whole history video is just an advert, and the transition from historical documentation to an advert is as smooth as Shell Helix engine oils.

[@JaredOwen]

This was a fantastic look back in time. Thanks for sharing!

[@randomeuropean7499]

You look familiar

[@rounaksingh495]

Working on a new video of black hawk

[@PotHead98]

@@randomeuropean7499 lol well he’s got 2 million followers so he might look familiar lol Edit: almost 3 million. 2.6

[@ItsHonski]

jared

[@maninathtripathi816]

​@@randomeuropean7499jyyhyyyyyuyuyyunnnnnnnnjbhhhbh

[@valeriishandra1088]

71 years later, but still very interesting to watch. Great documentary

[@actionjksn]

71 years later and the guy with the bouncy car with the round thing on top is still trying to get that thing to hover and fly with the birds😮

[@mommyh5388]

​@@actionjksn LiL

[@mommyh5388]

​@@actionjksn LoL

[@mommyh5388]

​@@actionjksn LeL

[@mommyh5388]

​@@actionjksn L(the entire alphabet)L

[@lunokhod3937]

man, humans are pretty cool

[@JuicySommelier]

Yeah you’re welcome. No big deal

[@twu1909]

@@JuicySommelier lol

[@Udhoi]

Apes.

[@Kyle-im6ke]

@@JuicySommelier you humans are weak

[@glo8oy]

More accurately nerds are cooler than we think..

[@TheHolyMongolEmpire]

This was really fascinating.

[@rudifleck2911]

Pollo 9o

[@minopoe1553]

These will really get big in the Vietnam war! Director: THE VIETNAM WHAT?!?!!?

[@mikerice5298]

No gun trucks was ship over there they had to make there own When they got over there .

[@ThatAdelaideGuy]

The French had been fighting a war in Vietnam years by the time this documentary was made

[@sumvs5992]

@@ThatAdelaideGuy that was called the First Indochina War though. And French Indochina was comprised of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, but were just one country. People would have said "Vietnam?", at least in the west anyway.

[@thomasward4505]

Pretty cool to see this old footage and see how things have changed since then

[@LoungeFly02]

I love how a gas company thought that helicopters would be a household thing that everyone could drive in the future

[@jannadrielcervo7753]

Same as the airplane, everyone get so crazed by it its like the next big thing.

[@6h471]

That's a frightening thought lol.

[@pyrotechnick420]

@@6h471 Remember The Jetsons? According to that show we we would drive flying cars on freeways in the sky lol. Pretty short sighted haha

[@spinbad1]

@@pyrotechnick420 thinking decades ago that in the future we’d have flying cars is literally the opposite of “short sighted” lol

[@pyrotechnick420]

@@spinbad1Short sighted was the wrong choice of words, predicting that something will be invented in the future is easy. The hard part is figuring out when. They thought flying cars would be common by the year 2000. It probably won't be until the year 2060. Like check this out, I predict that one day will have teleportation technology. When do you think that will ever happen?

[@paengsterable]

If they can only see us now, even kids can fly toy helicopters and drones. Thank you for your inventions.

[@lhaygood6328]

For such an old film it is surprisingly easy to listen too and understand

[@baltazarvok2564]

Surprisingly? All there old info films were to the point, with good pacing and clear prenounciation. It is todays documentaries that are full of unneccesary BS.

[@its.Sarthak101]

Some American while the development: So, how about adding a gun in it?

[@theimpostor9510]

You mean an Attack Helicopter?

[@SMGJohn]

And then the Russians were like _"So comrade, I heard Americans added two missiles to their choppers, how about we add ,100? On each side!"_

[@icepube4171]

Thats probably the first thing they thought of lol

[@travellerrana9978]

That's how it became a "Flying Democracy Machine"

[@alanaldpal950]

Fair comment considering America’s military power; However, countries all around the world throughout history have always looked to militarize new inventions and technology’s and military research and development has also lead to numerous inventions and technologies that benefits civilian life.

[@jimmimak]

5:38 amazing to see a quad copter in 1922, when we think they are so modern. Also, bi-copters 11:34 are often shown in sci-fi (e.g. Avatar) yet this Focke-Achgelis is shown in 1937. There's also a tricopter. Drone enthusiasts will love this.

[@441rider]

Mind blown, unreal he was on it!

[@JohnDLeo-rg8tc]

this was a nice doc, its ancientness lends it a certain charm

[@sipos66]

I worked on Sikorsky’s & Bell helos. I was an avionics tech. S-92’s S76’s S300’s. Bell 426’s, 425’s, & the refitted Huey’s with quad blades & more powerful jet engines. It was very cool!

[@RahulSingh-er9iv]

All early prototypes weird and wonderful that lead to a modern day helicopter, thumbs up 👍

[@Insoccerflicks]

I love my species

[@sasori25]

Which one?

[@adamclift88]

@@sasori25 ???????

[@doughnutman8832]

@@sasori25 cow.

[@JM-yx1lm]

@@adamclift88 it's hoping that person says white

[@Kyle-im6ke]

@@sasori25 black

[@thereaper2762]

2 things I don't hear talked about enough is "gyroscopic precession" and "autorotating." Gyroscopic precession meaning: with a fast spinning disc, to get the effect you want you have to control the blades 90 degrees BEFORE you want the effect to take place such as if you want to move forward you push the stick forward, but due to physics the mechanics of the chopper actually tilt the swashplate left (or right) because it takes X amount of time for the effect to take place. Autorotation: means a helicopter is it's own parachute. I used to think if you lose power you will plummet to the ground, game over. But in reality if you are falling from the sky a pilot will pitch the blades down and the wind pushing through the blades will make them spin faster, increasing the rotor RPM with 0 power. Then the pilot has one chance (about 100 feet above the ground) before they pitch the blades back up and the heli will float for just a few seconds to make a rough, but safe landing. Think of jumping out of a plane holding a cheap box fan over your head. As you fall the blades will gain alot of speed until they explode. While box fan blades are fixed blades, imagine if you had collective pitch control. At the last second you pitch up and you've created drag, just like a parachute. These are the 2 things that really blew my mind when learning how to fly RC helicopters

[@daneugenzeries8887]

Very accurate and interesting comment...thank you!

[@keithnaylor1981]

Brilliant, this is the way to present an historic interesting video - no annoying ads and no distracting digital clock!!! Up ‘Periscope!’

[@blazi2293]

Plane lore: Throw big wooden birb off a cliff Helicopter lore:

[@NeonBeeCat]

*bad piggies ost begins*

[@craftlofer9974]

thanks for this video, since i was a child i was really interested in helicopters and how they fly, very interesting to see their history

[@SDRIFTERAbdlmounaim]

if only new documentaries were this good, i didn't skip a second !

[@coffeepot3123]

I love all the different prototypes!, it's like something out of a kids imagination. I can only imagine the talks between the people that made these prototypes, definitely a big passion.

[@ThomasMaiens]

imagin being the first person actually flying somewhere in this

[@stillx1211]

The chance of getting killed by your own propeller

[@bluerainbug]

My daily dose of quality KZbin videos. So refreshing..

[@georgebamber6871]

incredible how well researched this was for 1952 with footage also. very intresting

[@Kissamiess]

17:03 I just love those intermeshing rotor Kaman/Flettner designs. Also surprised to see the coaxial arrangement used on some of those very early experiments.

[@Sishirreddy123]

Always best to watch these kind of videos at mod afternoons and at the midnights

[@rasmushjortshj7494]

What a great video

[@karma_C915]

Now this documentary itself is a history.

[@aashishkumar9696]

Well said!

[@sarangerande9587]

Each and every second of this video was informative...... 👍👍👍🙌

[@addiesingh1260]

4:16 was best helicopter

[@Viki-zo1bc]

Helicopter's contribution to humankind is huge!

[@anilkadiyala]

Magical narration and voice

[@billyhendrix5544]

This video injects me with hope

[@ramonworden4844]

great footage! kudos to you

[@marneus]

Juan de la Cierva hinges were key for the helicopter development. Kudos to the documentary for mentioning it.

[@deadeye8]

2021 : Helicopter Helicopter

[@nonstopdude1211]

finaly i know what the back prop is for.. thank you 1952 person in the documentary :D

[@Giove83]

Hi guys amazing work on making the film look brilliant

[@rafaeljosecastromardones8339]

Hola, se puede decir que el helicóptero fue y será una aeronave que le dio otro sentido a la humanidad. Excelente vídeo y muy explicativo, te felicito. 👍👍👍👍🇨🇱

[@vikasbadwal6206]

Wonderful documentary

[@shaider1982]

Kids born at the time of this release will have witness the flight of a helicopter on Mars.

[@HexenMeister06]

That Shell advertisement in the beguining sure did age well

[@markadvertising7357]

they failed and try and again failed and try and again failed and try and again failed and again try .... because of these genious people today we have lots of aircraft's

[@BruceSeesall]

Really cool video.

[@realvanman1]

What an era!! And, were it not for the wars, what a time to be alive! So much hope for the marvels of the near future!

[@HNA12615]

Really impressive

[@V-V1875-h]

Looks like something I'd build in bad piggies lol

[@fredsalter1915]

That last helicopter with the flaming rotor tips was the best!!

[@blankpaper2471]

The 19 century slow motion camera is better than today flagship phone slow motion

[@bradwooldidge6979]

Great film! I didn’t know any of this!

[@robsonmacedo5143]

Thank You, Alberto Santos Dumont, You are the relly gennius !!

[@ned533]

3:55 me trying to get my grades up like:

[@Arraydeess]

9:15 That looks so freaking cool. If only I could be there and feel the awe and wonder of the crowd

[@voicetube]

It's really awesome and amazing to think that if somebody ended up actually cracking the nut of gravity and created efficient, workable antigravity devices, this and so many other transportation technologies would become moot (as a point :-) As that's not necessarily likely to happen anytime soon, this continues to be very relevant!

[@FabiokiOjedaBuitrago]

Great! Thanks for sharing it.

[@RealMadMed]

Imagine the people that were down seeing something up in the sky

[@sinnombre__]

IS THAT A FROZEN PLANE!!? A ZEPPELIN PLANE-?

[@dan-oh7jo]

With a weird noises which can't be from a plane, but sounds like machine gun fire and 2 cylinder engine.

[@samanli-tw3id]

Look! A flying windmill!

[@allgood6760]

Thanks for this still used today ✈️

[@SPARC3337]

Imagine being one of these people, It would be mind blowing for that that time.

[@drallersouldust3054]

though its old and some are failed but it's kinda exquisite to see their mechanical design in person it would really be fascinating

[@pascoaiandreta9964]

Stop the pigeon!

[@billyhendrix5544]

6:02 that was honestly it, what theyre doing in this clip is miles ahead of their time

[@lilcrewmate5129]

Those guys really had high expectations about their aircraft

[@sourabhanand7718]

Brilliant !

[@junior20223]

Muito bacana esse vídeo !

[@Manu_4]

It's a great information man....

[@lilmacfarlan3]

Dude the slow mo footage is astonishing for its age.

[@anushkaviratkohli879]

Repeat repeat repeat never gets old ❤️

[@vvhh9578]

Thanks for sharing ,many wouldn't have thought at that one could also fly using rotating wheels mounted at the top .

[@fuadsimon]

Damn, why is it so entertaining and understandable at the same time?

[@actionjksn]

Legend has it this guy at 3:56 is still bouncing around trying to get this thing to hover and fly with the birds.

[@441rider]

1920s quadcopter guy was 100 years ahead of his time so unreal!

[@actionjksn]

I'm so old we watched films in class with this same guy narrating.

[@joestrike8537]

I've been watching old episodes of "The Whirlybirds" TV series here on KZbin (which I loved as a kid). I put this on my "watch later" list just in case I'm called upon to take over a 'bird in an emergency!

[@tom115]

Awesome

[@Tech-gv6qk]

In other videos i saw comments calling them dumb,fool,idiots. Well we the newer generation just benefits from these ambitious inventors. We just enhances their inventions.

[@aliagree8448]

Very useful

[@FloofyMinari]

How say you Mr. Johnson? Should we add guns to it?

[@jacobstephens7153]

lol

[@theimpostor9510]

Attack

[@anactualalpaca7016]

autogiros are my new fav flying machine

[@kevinparker2409]

I love the Sikorsky S-51. They had them on the USS New Jersey during the Korean war. The same ship my grandfather served on during WWII.

[@CalvinHikes]

It's interesting to note it was probably not a matter of design but of engine speed that took so long to reach flight.

[@RedFox04190]

12:56 this could be the first cargo Helicopter. 💪🏻

[@easysuccess910]

Really pretty cool ❤

[@newyorkcapability]

It is fantastic to see the early helicopter looked like a modern drone

[@vanpenguin22]

Those first guys to get off the ground rotary wing style: "What is this strange song in my head?" "How does it go?" "Something about 'I ain't me, It ain't me, I ain't no'...something "

[@NeonBeeCat]

Seeing a quadcopter from 100 year ago is cool

[@mickbutton3625]

Thank you for mentioning Sir George Caley

[@yvesbajulaz]

great docu

[@alanmd502]

Fascinating

[@dixieboy5689]

I think I remember a tv show from the 50's in USA called Whirlybirds. It was great Very exciting.

[@jasonl3445]

Amazing

[@8billionidiotsonaplanet65]

Background music reminds me tom and jerry

[@baihulkjisans922]

Yes true 😂😂😂

[@rickymarvy6429]

pretty cool

[@brenttonbmx]

Those guys trying to hold those machines down while the propellers are spinning crazy. What a life

[@Redmenace96]

What's wrong with optimism, people? Good gravy. After this film, I want to go to my garage and build a personal transport helo.

[@Carla-tz7qw]

It was Cool seeing that small helicopter on the movie Road Warrior.

[@RP-nv4kj]

meanwhile, in an alternate universe where helicopters wasn't deem useful to developed, that guy is still playing basketball for fun.

[@madeljacky]

12:01 there is one of these Westland Dragonfly helicopters belonging to the Royal Navy in Lough Foyle, Londonderry, Northern Ireland that came down on 25 November 1958, nobody was killed in it. You can walk out to it but its a fair distance and the helicopter is lying on its right hand side.