Quote:
Originally Posted by zapatista
i think the German Focke-Wulf Fw 61 might technically be labled a helicopter and not gyrocopter (and made its initial flight in June 1936) , but somebody with more factual knowledge might want to comment
from http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/fw-61.php |
Yes, it's often regarded as the first "successful" helicopter (whatever that means). Only two were built and it's primary service to the Third Reich was for propaganda. It eventually led to the Fa 223, which was a promising, if over-complex design that never lived up to its potential, given that Germany had more serious concerns than helicopter production by 1942.