Spinblade RC Helicopter

Radio Shack Spin Blade RC Indoor Helicopter flies from floor to ceiling

This RC helicopter has flexible rotor blades so you can fly indoors. Features a compact design and digital proportional control for easy turns in any direction. Flies in all directions. Digital proportional control. If you add a little weight to the front of the RC helicopter, it will tilt forward in order to fly horizontally, instead of only up and down.

History of the Helicopter

The development of the helicopter as we know it today was a complex journey that spanned several decades and involved contributions from multiple inventors. While the concept of vertical flight has been around for centuries, with designs appearing in sketches by Leonardo da Vinci in the late 15th century, it was not until the early 20th century that real strides were made.

In the 1930s and 1940s, pioneering figures like Igor Sikorsky in the United States, and Heinrich Focke and Anton Flettner in Germany, made significant advancements in the field. Sikorsky's VS-300, flown in 1939, is often considered the first practical helicopter. It was his design that laid the foundation for most subsequent helicopters, featuring a single main rotor and a tail rotor to counteract the torque.

During World War II, helicopters were used in limited roles for observation, search and rescue, and medical evacuation. The conflict did, however, accelerate development, with various nations recognizing the vehicle's potential for a variety of roles. Post-war, helicopters started to take on more commercial and military applications, from crop dusting to anti-submarine warfare.

Technological advancements have continued to improve the helicopter's capabilities. Turbine engines, composite materials, and advanced avionic systems have made helicopters faster, more efficient, and safer. Today, they serve a multitude of roles, from news gathering and traffic reporting to critical life-saving missions in remote areas. Their versatility and ability to operate without a runway make them invaluable in a variety of settings.