Paul Cornu

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Paul Cornu in his first helicopter in 1907. Note that he is sitting between the two rotors, which rotated in opposite directions to cancel torque. This helicopter was the first flying machine to have risen from the ground using rotor blades instead of wings.

Full length photograph of the helicopter.

Paul Cornu (born 1881 in Lisieux, France, died 6 June 1944) was a French engineer who manufactured bicycles by trade.

Cornu designed the world's first manned rotary wing aircraft and made the first piloted free flight with it at Lisieux, Calvados, France on November 13, 1907. This first flight lifted Cornu about 30 cm (1 ft) and lasted 20 seconds. This is sometimes recognized as the first free (but impractical) helicopter flight with a passenger. This first helicopter was powered by a 24-horsepower Antoinette engine.^[1]

The helicopter was not maneuverable however, and the construction was abandoned after a few flights.

Previously, another French helicopter, the Bréguet-Richet I, had managed to lift off by its own power, but it had been held in position by men standing on the ground.

Cornu died on June 6, 1944, when his home was destroyed during the bombardment that accompanied the Normandy landings.