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History for Kids / History's Not Boring: The Kids History Podcast Shared for you

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How did they invent helicopters?

From the podcast History for Kids / History's Not Boring: The Kids History Podcast

·12:57
Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a spinning, hovering, backward-flying machine! Have you ever wondered how helicopters were invented? For hundreds of years, humans dreamed of a flying machine that could hover in mid-air like a hummingbird and land safely anywhere. Even the famous artist Leonardo da Vinci drew a sketch of a giant flying screw over 500 years ago! But how did we get from those drawings to real-life rescues? Join Mira and Finn on an incredible high-flying adventure as they explore the wild history of the helicopter! You will discover a heavy 1907 "flying bicycle" that only lifted one foot off the ground. Then, meet the brilliant inventor Igor Sikorsky, who tested his amazing new flying machine while wearing a fancy business suit and a fedora hat! Learn how the genius tail rotor stopped the helicopter from spinning like a crazy carnival ride, and hear the thrilling story of the very first helicopter rescue during a massive winter storm in 1945! Plus, find out how fast a helicopter can fly and why you should watch out for hurricane-force winds when one lands! Strap in and get ready for takeoff!