Rotary wing flight.

This section includes the history, development and use of these vehicles.

Date: Made its initial flight on January 13, 1942
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
The Sikorsky R-4 as designed by Igor Sikorsky had a single,
three-bladed main rotor (engine). The R-4 was the world’s
first large-scale, mass-produced helicopter and the first
helicopter to enter service with the United States Army
Air Forces, Navy, and Coast Guard. The R-4 became the
model for all modern single-rotor helicopters produced
thereafter.
SOCIAL IMPACT:
Because helicopters have the ability to fly forwards,
backwards, up, down and sideways, as well as remaining
stationary over a single spot, they are used to complete
tasks that are not possible with airplanes. For example, helicopters are often more useful than airplanes in fighting
fires, rescuing people stuck in otherwise inaccessible places, transporting the sick and injured, moving and removing
large objects, and gathering news and scientific data.

Facts infographic.

History infograpgic.