From da Vinci's 'aerial screw,' to the Wright bat to falling maple seeds — spinning wings have long fascinated humans. Today’s drones, autogyros, and helicopters are direct descendants of these early spinning wings. In this episode of STEM in 30 we'll take a look at the unique features of helicopters, explore their uses, dive into their history and even take a flight with some of the best trained pilots there are.

The episode of our educational webcast series STEM in 30 will premiere on the National Air and Space Museum YouTube channel on January 12, 2023.

This program is made possible through the generous support of Safran.


STEM in 30 is the National Air and Space Museum’s Emmy-nominated webcast series for middle school students. Tune in every month to share the fascination of aviation and space with your students.

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Aircraft Helicopters Technology and Engineering Drones
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