The Transmission of Helicopter Technology, 1920–1939: Exchanges with von Baumhauer

Abstract

Previous research on helicopter history consists primarily of (auto)biographies and collections of helicopter patents. The first with its focus on individual achievements mostly denies contact between pioneers while the second largely ignores the limited use of patents by these pioneers. As a result the transmission of helicopter technology, particularly that of the 1920s and 1930s in Europe, has been little understood.

The results of archival research presented here show that there was contact between these helicopter pioneers including providing references to patent information but at a modest scale. Conference reports and private correspondence found in the archive of the Dutch helicopter engineer Albert von Baumhauer suggest that a stronger link between helicopter pioneers was evident in shared theoretical interests rather than in an exchange of mechanical solutions. Language barriers and geographical distance between the main players partly explain the lack of greater cooperation among a highly specialized group of aviation engineers.

Keywords:

• aviation
• helicopter
• autogiro
• Albert von Baumhauer
• Ludwig Prandtl
• wind tunnel

This research was facilitated by the Stichting Historisch Museum NLR in Amsterdam, and I specially thank DirkJan Rozema and Kees Bakker. I am particularly indebted to the late Mrs Klein-von Baumhauer for her memorable conversations at the kitchen table and for giving me access to her personal archive and memories. I owe special thanks to Simon Boersen with whom I spent many afternoons at the NLR archives as well as Frans Klein and his family for continuous moral support. Finally, I wish to express my appreciation for the many helpful comments and improvements provided by Connie Dickmeyer, Suzanne Moon and Jacklyn Lacey.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alex de Voogt

Alex de Voogt is an assistant curator in the Division of Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History. He published widely on aviation safety and also on the architecture of helicopter platforms resulting in the book Helidrome Architecture in 2007. He obtained a commercial helicopter pilot licence in 2004 and is a Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Correspondence to: Alex de Voogt. Email: [email protected]