“The Helicopter” (1953) is a short, black-and-white educational film that uses live-action footage and animation to discuss the development of helicopters and the aerodynamics that allow it to fly and function. Produced by Encyclopedia Britannica (EB) Films in collaboration with Alexander A. Nikolsky of the Department of Aeronautical Engineering at Princeton University, the film walks the viewer through the various jobs undertaken by helicopters that are not possible by larger aircraft such as delivering mail, carrying out medical evacuations in combat zones, or water landings in swamp land.

Film opens, EB films logo (0:06). Title page, text overlaid close-up propeller of helicopter (0:14). Jet propulsion and advancements in aviation, examples of different aircraft taking off from tarmac: Douglas C-54 Skymaster (0:30). Perhaps Grumman F9F Panther takes off (0:49). Bell 47 G-2 helicopter lands close to Eastern Airlines hangar (1:11). Examples of scenarios where use of helicopter is preferred or beneficial: Bell 47 G-2 takes off from airport to deliver mail to post office (1:33). Aerial POV as helicopter lands on roof of post office (1:52). Farmers load vents of helicopter with dust before spraying field, orchard from air (2:06). Helicopter inspects power lines from the air (2:36). Bell 47 G-2 equipped with pontoons makes water landing in swamp area (2:55). Bell UH-13 Sioux carries out medical evacuation in combat zone, soldiers attach gurney to side of the helicopter before it takes off to transport wounded soldier to field hospital (3:04). Bell 47B Helicopter operates as personal vehicle, takes off from driveway of family home (3:34). Perhaps single-engine Beech Debonair 35-33 (3:57). Animated segment demonstrating how air passes over the wings of an airplane, allowing aircraft to fly (4:30). Bell UH-13 Sioux in field, camera pans up to helicopter rotor blades on top of aircraft, demonstration of rotor blades turning while narrator explains how they allow helicopter to fly (5:18). Historical footage of autogyro (gyrocopter) prototype, inspiration for later development of helicopter (6:03). Pilot in Bell UH-13 Sioux demos how rotor works to turn helicopter body in an action called “torque,” close-up helicopter tail propeller carrying out “anti-torque” to turn helicopter in any direction independently of direction of travel (6:24). Child playing with toy rotor used to demo how forward movement is accomplished (6:57). Return to footage of Bell UH-13 Sioux applying principles from demo, tilts rotor and shaft of helicopter to fly in certain direction (7:13). Young boy joins pilot in Bell UH-13 Sioux and goes for a ride, pilot uses throttle and foot pedals to get helicopter airborne (7:35). POV from helicopter flying over smokestacks of factory facility, other city scenes (8:30). Different models of helicopters: Sikorsky S-55 (8:55). Kaman K-225 intermeshing twin-rotor helicopter, known as a synchropter, designed for the civilian market (9:01). Piasecki H-21 twin-rotor helicopter (9:14). Close-up jet of jet-engine helicopter, Hiller HH-120 “Hornet” helicopter demo in open field. This was an ultra-light helicopter powered by twin ram jets attached to the blade tips. (9:24). McDonnell XH-20 “Little Henry” experimental lightweight helicopter (9:50). American Helicopter XH-26 Jet Jeep experimental tip jet helicopter developed in 1951 (10:02). Perhaps Mack E Model delivery truck drives down city street (10:06). Bell 47 G-2 takes off from post office roof, POV from street looking up at helicopter as it flies off into distance (10:15). Closing credits (10:36). Film ends (10:42).

The Bell 47 single-rotor single-engine light helicopter became the first helicopter certified for civilian use on 8 March 1946. The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse/Shawnee tandem rotor helicopter were commonly called “the flying banana”.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com