First remote-controlled (RC) helicopter

The first remote-controlled (RC) helicopter was built c. 1931 by inventor Arthur M Young (USA) in the barn of his family estate in Radnor, Pennsylvania, USA. To construct the primitive 6-foot-long craft, Young used rubber bands, wooden propellers and balsa wood strips he had found in a toy shop. The first flight of his creation lasted just 10 seconds. Over the following years, Young built further model helicopters powered by electrical remote control. His experiments were aimed at making a stable and effective actual-size helicopter. Early attempts led to erratic flight, but – after experimenting with pendulums – his breakthrough was devising a stabilizer bar that reduced tilt to allow smooth flying and even motionless hovering. In 1941, Young began working with the Bell Aircraft Company in Buffalo, New York, and in December 1942 a Model 30 helicopter christened Genevieve was tested. It had 32-foot-long rotor blades and a 160-hp Franklin air-cooled engine. In tethered trials, the craft – initially piloted by Young himself – was able to successfully hover at a height of just one foot above the ground. By 1943, Genevieve was able to hover at greater heights and travel at speeds of 70 mph.

After further extensive upgrades and exhaustive testing, the Bell Model 47 was rolled out on 8 December 1945. A further 10 craft were built for demonstration and training purposes. On 8 March 1946, the Bell Model 47 was awarded a commercial helicopter licence – the first of any kind in the world.

The Model 47 was manufactured for the next 27 years, with more than 5,000 models constructed for both military and commercial use. By the time it was retired in 1974, it had been configured in more than 20 different versions and licensed to the UK, Italy and Japan.

Arthur Young, who died in California, USA, on 30 May 1995, is remembered as the inventor of the world's first commercial helicopter.