Helicopters are amazing and sophisticated pieces of equipment, be it for military or civilian use. They can perform numerous and crucial tasks in support of military operations. Much like any other device, the helicopter has evolved over time, proceeding from its rudimentary, humble origins in the early 20th century to the present day, when helicopters are technologically advanced, multi-role aircraft.
Photo: US Navy
The US Navy has employed numerous helicopters in its service. This article will cover some of the more prominent.
The humble origins of US Naval rotary aviation
The initial phases of rotary aircraft development within the US military came in the form of autogiros; this phase of testing occurred in the 1930s and produced little progress. This stagnation all changed with Igor Sikorsky, a Russian emigrant to the US, built and flew his first helicopter in 1939 (tethered to the ground), and it made its first free-flight on May 13, 1940.
Photo: Lockheed Martin
Related Top 5 Oldest US Military Helicopters Still Flying Many of the US 1950s and 1960s-designed military helicopters remain in use in the US and around the world.
These successful flights attracted the attention of the US Army and Navy, with naval planners seeing Sikorski’s helicopter as a potential instrument for fleet protection.
By approximately mid-1943, Admiral Ernest J. King (Chief of Naval Operations) ordered the
Amazing: How US Navy Helicopters Have Evolved From 1940s To The Present Day
