We’ve made a lot of history in Connecticut, more than even many lifetime residents realize. For example, did you know that the lollipop was invented in Connecticut? Not only was the first hamburger (allegedly) served in New Haven, but the Elm City also saw the first Frisbee. One huge first that a lot of people may not be aware of is that Connecticut was home to the first practical helicopter flight.

The idea of helicopters is much older than most people realize. In China, children were playing with helicopter-like toys back in 400 BC! In the 1480s, Leonardo da Vinci designed an "aerial screw," pictured below, and made attempts at creating an actual model that could accomplish vertical flight.
Wikimedia Commons
In 1907, French inventor Paul Cornu built a quadcopter that managed to fly a foot in the air for about 20 seconds.
Wikimedia Commons
Russian-American Igor Sikorsky was the inventor of what is considered the first practical helicopter - that is, a helicopter that could be controlled and actually used for flight.
SDASM Archives/Wikimedia Commons

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Sikorsky established Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford in 1923, just a few years after he moved to the United States.
Mfield/Wikimedia Commons
Sikorsky Aircraft was sold to Lockheed Martin in 2015, but the company is still headquartered in Stratford and employs around 8,000 people in Connecticut.
The first practical helicopter model, known as the VS-300, was remarkably similar to today's designs, with a single main rotor and tail rotor. The first tethered flight took place on September 14, 1939 in Stratford, CT.
University of Connecticut Libraries/Connecticut Historical Society
The first untethered flight would take place the following May.
What I find really fascinating is that it took less than 30 years to go from a practical helicopter to landing on the moon!
United States Army Air Force/Wikimedia Commons
The human capacity for innovation and achievement is quite awe-inspiring.

Did you know that the world’s first practical helicopter flight was in Connecticut? What other Connecticut inventions and firsts do you know of?

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