Helicopters: books - history and models (1/2)

From Autogiro to Gyroplane - The Amazing Survival of an Aviation Technology

Charnov tells the 80-year history of the Autogiro, a rotary-wing aircraft that predated the helicopter by two decades and that was almost lost to history before its resurrection as the gyrocopter in the 1950s and 1960s.

Predating the invention of the helicopter by two decades, the Autogiro was the world's first rotary-wing aircraft. The helicopter had the advantageous ability to rise straight up, while the Autogiro/gyroplane could only taxi. Yet the gyroplane was safer and more stable; both aircraft should have had value in market. Why did the helicopter survive and prosper, while the Autogiro became a nearly forgotten historical footnote? Why didn't the Autogiro catch on, and why is it being revived today?

This is the first book to tell the fascinating 80-year history of today's gyroplane and its antecedent, the Autogiro. Charnov explains that the near-eclipse of the Autogiro was caused by a potent combination of bad luck, the impact of the Great Depression and World War II, and egregious business decisions.
Only by understanding the amazing manner in which this aviation technology has persisted and evolved can one fully understand the basis for its future. In contrast to the fate of the Autogiro, the gyroplane's unfolding story is characterized by successful business models, effective decision making, and the emergence of cutting-edge technology. The survival of the gyroplane may be a paradigm for the persistence of earlier, less complex technologies, and its future relies on grasping its colorful history.

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Tilt Rotor Aircraft - An Illustrated History

Describes in superb pictures and text the fascinating genre of tilt rotor airplanes. Since the first helicopters flew, attempts have been made to create a link between the mobility of the rotorcraft and the speed of the winged airplane.

At first these attempts failed simply because of constructive difficulties, since the technology had not advanced far enough. The progressive development, though, created in the past decades new possibilities, and thus led to the V-22 "Osprey", which has meanwhile been produced in series and is used by the U.S. forces.
A civilian model, the Bell-Agusta BA 209, will soon be introduced commercially.

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Les Hélicoptères de Combat

This dense work offers an exhaustive overview of combat helicopters in service in the world. The reader will discover through technical descriptions and 200 recent carefully selected photos, the attack aircraft in air combat missions.
The work also addresses the engagement doctrines and the operational use of these "rotary wings" with remarkable performances, like the operations in Libya, Mali or Syria. These recent conflicts have confirmed the leading role that combat helicopters can play on the battlefield.

Future tactical drones are not forgotten in the concept of air combat. These unmanned platforms, which will be integrated into the digitalization of air-land space, will undoubtedly reach an operational stage in the next decade.
Without a doubt, a reference book on the subject.

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Hélicoptères - au coeur de l'action

Since the 4th century BC, the Chinese have been flying small toy helicopters to entertain children. However, the first real take-off of a helicopter with a man on board took place on November 13 1907. This date marks the beginning of the worldwide epic of helicopters, with their performance, technology and amusing names such as Puma, Gazelle and Dauphin.

French helicopters were first deployed operationally during the Indochina War, mainly for medical missions. During the Vietnam War, the Americans massively used helicopters for the transport and support of ground troops, christening the conflict "the war of the helicopter". This period marked an expansion of the use of helicopters in combat, from the evacuation of the wounded to the support of military operations.

Today, helicopters play a crucial role in a multitude of military and civilian missions, from maritime surveillance to fighting forest fires. They have become indispensable tools for the Army, Navy, Gendarmerie and emergency services.
This book illustrates these varied missions through exceptional images, offering a captivating insight into the importance and diversity of the roles of helicopters in our modern society.

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Transporthubschrauber - seit 1945 (Typenkompass)

Shortly after the Second World War, helicopters outgrew their infancy. As a result, increasingly powerful machines were created - initially with piston engines, but increasingly with turbine engines.

The helicopter types quickly became larger and more powerful and were therefore increasingly used to transport heavy loads.
The largest and most powerful series-produced helicopter in the world - the Russian Mil Mi-26 - has a rotor diameter that corresponds to the wingspan of a Boeing 737.

This volume of the Typenkompass series is dedicated to this exciting segment.

Each type is presented with a photo, a historical description and a technical sheet.

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Kampfhubschrauber - weltweit

Combat helicopters are martial aircraft and, if necessary, get involved where things really get serious: in the middle of the battlefield. They are usually equipped with large-caliber machine guns and air-to-ground missiles.
In order to withstand enemy fire, these helicopters are themselves heavily armored and have a wide range of defensive measures.

Combat helicopters have played a role in almost all crisis and war zones in the recent past. Michael Normann examines the most important types and describes their development, use and variants.

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