This month is the 100th anniversary of the first successful flight of the Autogiro, designed and built by Juan De La Cierva, an engineer from Spain.
The Autogiro is important in aviation history because de la Cierva solved engineering problems that paved the way for the design of other aircraft with rotating wings, like the helicopter.
Explore the activities below to learn more about the Autogiro and other rotorcraft!
Timeline: Autogiros to Helicopters
Activity: Make a Whirligig Wind Flyer
At-Home Story Time Suggestions
Check these books out at your school or library to explore the topic of rotorcraft and the different uses of these aircraft!
Spotlight Story: Women in Helicopter Aviation
Meet two women helicopter pilots who have made an impact with their work in helping people in need.
Craft Activity: Make a Model Helicopter
Modified from a craft from The Craft Train
The book Yellow Copter features a bright yellow rescue helicopter. Pilot La'Shaundra Holmes' Coast Guard helicopter is a bright red-orange! Now it's your turn to make your own model rescue helicopter.
Materials Needed:
- Egg carton
- Brads
- Heavy weight paper, card stock, or old greeting card
- Push pin or thumbtack
- Scissors
- Glue
- Tape
To land safely, helicopters need landing gear. They can be wheels, skids (rails) or even floats.
Take a look at the images below for inspiration and create landing gear for your helicopter using materials you have in your home, like toothpicks, chopsticks or pipe cleaners.
Once your toy helicopter has its landing gear, it is complete and ready to go on a rescue mission or other adventure!
Soar Together at Air and Space is made possible by the generous support of Northrop Grumman.
National Air and Space Museum
6th St. and Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20560
202-633-2214
Open daily
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151
703-572-4118
Open daily
10:00 am - 5:30 pm