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Helicopters History

Helicopters History

1920 to today

In 1922, the Spanish engineer Juan de La Cierva entered the final development stage of an autogyro: an airplane whose wings were replaced by a free-spinning rotor, entirely driven by the speed of the forward propeller.

1920s

In early 1948 the SO1100 (Ariel 1) made its free flight.

1930s-50s

1950s-60s

1950s-60s

First Flight on April 15, 1965

1960s-90s

September 1, 1992: The NH90 development contract is signed between NAHEMA (NATO Helicopter Management Agency) and NH Industrie, a French company, which is the focal point for the NH90 programme

1992-1995

February 15, 1996: The ceremony for the first official flight of the NH90 took place at the Airbus Helicopters (former Eurocopter) plant in Marignane, France in the presence of military and governmental representatives from France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands (the nations participating in the NH90 Programme)

1996-1998

The first flight of the fourth prototype of the NH90 (PT4) took place at Eurocopter Deutschland's test facility in Ottobrunn near Munich

1999-2001

2002-2004

2002-2004

The first HAP Tiger, delivered to the French Army

2005-2007

The EC225 granted FAA type certification

2008-2011

100,000 flight hours with German Federal Police

2012-2017

The H160 flies over the Grand Canyon just before its international airshow debut at the 2018 HAI-Heli-Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada

2018

Discover Airbus History through the decades

Discover Airbus History through the decades