A Timeline of the Helicopter

By: Hal Goetz

Invention

• The modern helicopter was invented in 1939, just before WWII

• Not used extensively in WWII

• Rudimentary and hard to fly/use

Korea

• Helicopter used extensively in Korea

• Used mostly as a medical evacuation vehicle.

• Over 15,000 people were evaced by helicopters

• Marines start to experiment with troop transport and deployment

Pre-Vietnam• Many advancements make

helicopter more practical• Army starts to experiment with

use in combat• All branches of service learn to

use helicopters to deploy forces.• Special all-helicopter battalion is

added to Army.• Air Force also uses helicopter

extensively• Fun fact: a model of the

helicopter to the right has served as Marine One (the President’s helicopter) for decades now.

Vietnam

• Vietnam was a war dominated by the helicopter

• Helicopters were used to do everything, from medevac to combat patrols to special forces deployment

• The helicopter became the main transport method for American ground forces

Modern Wars

• In modern wars the helicopter has become very important

• This is due to its ability to fly close in and perform nearly any role

• Helicopter have also started to engage in air-to-air combat, while their role as medevacs has remained just as important.

Drones

• The Military has been experimenting with dehumanizing the battlefield

• This includes the air, which means unmanned drones, usually taking helicopter form

Civilian medevacs• Every major city in America

has one or more fleets of civilian medevacs.

• Run by private companies• Take critical patients to

hospitals• Have problems due to flying

at night, inexperienced pilots, and rushed flight plans

• Need to install better detection instruments and train pilots better

Bibliography• Picture 1: http://news.cnet.com/2300-11397_3-6205597-5.html?tag=mncol• Picture 2:http://history1900s.about.com/od/photographs/ig/Korean-War-

Pictures/korean76.htm• Picture 3: http://news.cnet.com/2300-11397_3-6205597-9.html?tag=mncol• Picture 4: http://news.cnet.com/2300-11397_3-6205597-10.html?tag=mncol• Picture 5: http://news.cnet.com/2300-11397_3-6205597-14.html?tag=mncol• Picture 6: http://news.cnet.com/2300-11397_3-6205597-16.html?tag=mncol• Picture 7http://news.cnet.com/2300-11397_3-6205597-18.html?tag=mncol• Picture 8:

http://www.photovault.com/show.php?cat=Technology/Aviation_Helicopters?tg=TAHVolume02/TAHV02P07_18

Bibliography (Cont’d)

• Source 1: TANKS AND HELICOPTERS: FACTORS INFLUENCING THE RATE OF INNOVATION . Guy M. Hicks and George E. Pickett Jr. Oct. 1994. (Sept. 9 1010). [http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMD82007-0-799&artno=0000082435&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=tanks%20and%20helicopters&title=Tanks%20and%20Helicopters%3A%20Factors%20Influencing%20the%20Rate%20of%20Innovation&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=Y&ic=Y]

• Source 2: Air Defense with an Attitude: Helicopter v. Helicopter Combat. Lieutenant Colonel Lester W. Grau, U.S. Army, Retired, and Major James H. Adams III, U.S. Marine Corps. Jan/Feb. ’03. (Sept. 13 2010). [http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMD82007-0-799&artno=0000171335&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=air%20defense%20with%20an%20attitude&title=Air%20Defense%20with%20an%20Attitude%3A%20Helicopter%20v.%20Helicopter%20Combat&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=Y&ic=Y]

Bibliography (Cont’d)

• Source 3: Emergency Medical Helicopters Most Dangerous Aricraft in Sky, Experts Say. By Jon Hilkevitch. Oct. 16, 2008. (Sept. 13, 2010). [http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMD82007-0-799&artno=0000290031&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=Jon%20Hilkevitch&title=Emergency%20Medical%20Helicopters%20Most%20Dangerous%20Aricraft%20in%20Sky...&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=Y&ic=Y]