The Sycamore Seeds: The Early History of the Helicopter

Brand new with no scuffs or markings. The history of the helicopter from earliest times to 1960 includes Cierva, Focke Achgellis, Sikorsky, Weir etc. Researched from company records and contemporary publications.

The Sycamore Seeds has 219 Pages, A5 - profusely illustrated with over 300 rare pictures and one colour. There are unique drawings and illustrations published for the first time. Covers the history of the Denny Mumford helicopters up to 1914.

The history of the Autogiro is covered and the role of Juan de la Cierva to his death in an air crash. It investigates the role of G & J Weir and the first British helicopters including the Weir W5 and W6. Takes the history past WW2 to the Cierva W9 and the giant Air Horse.

The evolution of the tailless rotor on the Cierva W.9 is accurately explained based on company records of Weir, Cierva and Morris, as is the Weir Company's invention of the Fenestron tail fan. The Air Horse, designed by Shapiro, has its history detailed to its eventual crash and demise, taking the lives of Alan Marsh and Jeep Cable. The Germans are not neglected with a full chapter on Focke Achgellis, Dobblehoff, Liore et Olivier etc.

Hanna Reitsch and her test flights on the FW61 are included. Wartime German Helicopter production is included and its influence on American and British helicopter development. The flight of Cierva and Reggie Brie from Italien cruisers is highly detailed.

Covers the history of the Cierva C30 in Royal Air Force service including the radar calibration flights and the 1943 dogfight of Norman Hill in his Rota I. (This is the first published description in any book). He had been intercepted over Hawkinge by two FW190s and by various manoeuvres survived to tell the tale.

Includes the evolution of the Flying Jeep and the single pilot Rotachute with the Bristol Sycamore. Also included the American development of the Sikorsky Hoverfly. Morris furniture manufactured the blades for the Jeep, the Rotachute, Bristol Sycamore and wooden blades for the Sikorsky Hoverfly.

The setting up of the Joint Helicopter School at Floyd Bennett Field is included as are the anti - submarine test flights on the MV Daghestan. This includes the development of the Sikorsky Hoverfly at sea and its use in the UK by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. The Hoverfly unit was a combined Royal Navy/ United States Coast Guard unit at Brooklyn airfield.

Project Ivory Soap is detailed and the use of the Hoverfly off supply ships. Development of the Bristol Sycamore up to the Bristol 192. Introduces the finances of Power Jets and intelligence intrigue at Power Jets and Weir/Cierva.

The description of the Cierva Air Horse is from those who were there. Gives an explanation of helicopter patents and aeronautical research reports from NACA and the RAE. This is an insight how Focke patents were infringed.

There is a comprehensive Bibliography and appendix with a biography of Jeep Cable and the rotor craft he flew etc. This is not a compendium of Wikipedia articles, this is an original work and is not an on-demand print or a compilation of search answers from web sites.