Henrich Focke — Inventor of the First Successful Helicopter

[kolibri282]

Author(s): Berend G. van der Wall, Franklin D. Harris
Title: Henrich Focke — Inventor of the First Successful Helicopter

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20220014586

comment: van der Wall works at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Harris is, of course well known in this forum. Two leading experts in the field offer a book that makes for a very interesting read. The one little downer might be, that once again a German helicopter designer did things quite some time before Sikorsky...;-)

 

[okikuma]

Danke schön Juergen.

Wayne

 

[okikuma]

Author(s): Berend G. van der Wall, Franklin D. Harris
Title: Henrich Focke — Inventor of the First Successful Helicopter

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20220014586

comment: van der Wall works at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Harris is, of course well known in this forum. Two leading experts in the field offer a book that makes for a very interesting read. The one little downer might be, that once again a German helicopter designer did things quite some time before Sikorsky...;-)

Since Focke-Wulf purchased the license agreements to build C.19 and C.30 Autogiros, they used Cierva's flapping and lead-lag hinge technology in their helicopter rotor systems.

Wayne

 

[Aerofoam]

Since Focke-Wulf purchased the license agreements to build C.19 and C.30 Autogiros, they used Cierva's flapping and lead-lag hinge technology in their helicopter systems.

Wayne

Didn't Sikorsky just "borrow" take 17 of Cierva's patented designs during the time Cierva made them available to the US to resist the hostile takeover of Europe?

 

[XXavier]

Many thanks, Juergen, for this exceptionally valuable reference. Very interesting and instructive...

 

[WaspAir]

Didn't Sikorsky just "borrow" take 17 of Cierva's patented designs during the time Cierva made them available to the US to resist the hostile takeover of Europe?

Not quite. The Autogyro Company of America (essentially, Pitcairn and related concerns) let the Army use all their patent rights during WWII with the expectation of royalties after hostilities ended. The government gave them the brush off after the war and had many helicopters built for them by Sikorsky and others. Autogyro Co. sued the government in the claims court, and the government dragged it out until 1968 (Pitcairn was the man behind Pittsburgh Plate Glass so he had the means to tough it out). The result was a big wad of cash paid to Pitcairn by the government ((not by Sikorsky, who were doing exactly what the government asked them to do).

 

[okikuma]

Not quite. The Autogyro Company of America (essentially, Pitcairn and related concerns) let the Army use all their patent rights during WWII with the expectation of royalties after hostilities ended. The government gave them the brush off after the war and had many helicopters built for them by Sikorsky and others. Autogyro Co. sued the government in the claims court, and the government dragged it out until 1968 (Pitcairn was the man behind Pittsburgh Plate Glass so he had the means to tough it out). The result was a big wad of cash paid to Pitcairn by the government ((not by Sikorsky, who were doing exactly what the government asked them to do).

JR, you beat me to the punchline.

I think it was 1951 when Picarin filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Federal Government which during WW2 accepted legal responsibility for any patent infringement. As you mentioned, in 1967 the U.S. Courts of Claims found the government liable for patent infringement. In 1978, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from the Federal Gov, and thus had to pay to Pitcarin estate around $32M in compensation.

Wayne

 

[XXavier]

Author(s): Berend G. van der Wall, Franklin D. Harris
Title: Henrich Focke — Inventor of the First Successful Helicopter

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20220014586

comment: van der Wall works at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Harris is, of course well known in this forum. Two leading experts in the field offer a book that makes for a very interesting read. The one little downer might be, that once again a German helicopter designer did things quite some time before Sikorsky...;-)

In page 51 of that publication, there's a mention of a half-forgotten rotary-wing pioneer, Walter Rieseler. An interesting paper on his life and works can be read here: https://www.aerosociety.com/media/16537/2021-02-rieseler-van-der-wall-and-mo-nnich.pdf

BTW, this site is a treasure trove of aviation history: https://www.aerosociety.com/news-ex...apers-of-the-journal-of-aeronautical-history/

 

[okikuma]

Información maravillosa. Muchas gracias Xavier.

Wayne

 

[Jean Claude]

This Breguet helicopter with coaxial rotors seems to have preceded the Focke helicopter.

https://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/breguet-dorand.php

 

[okikuma]

This Breguet helicopter with coaxial rotors seems to have preceded the Focke helicopter.

https://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/breguet-dorand.php

Jean,

I find it interesting with all the old films of the Breguet helicopter I have ever seen show only running takeoffs and run on landings. I guess if I didn't know how to hover, the safest way is to perform take offs and landings would be in that manner.

Wayne

 

[XXavier]

Breguet built and flew a very advanced helicopter prototype. Deatails and information can possibly be located –with some patience– on the pages of French technical magazines that can be found in the Gallica portal...