Enrico Forlanini

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Enrico Forlanini was an Italian engineer credited with inventing the vapor powered helicopter.

The Forliani helicopter had a propeller with diameter 2.80m and a metal sphere suspended beneath as counterweight. Weight 3500g. It was demonstrated (no pilot?) at Alexandria on 29 June 1877, and shortly thereafter in Milan.[1]

(An earlier helicopter, powered by combusion and with a short successful flight, was built by Englishman W. H. Philipps in 1842.[1]

Forliani seems to have obtained a number of international aero patents later in his life, not for a helicopter, but for a hydroplane and some other technology.

Patents whose inventor or applicant is Enrico Forlanini

Publications by or about Enrico Forlanini

References


Names Enrico Forlanini
Birth date 1848-12-13
Death date 1930
Countries IT
Locations Milan
Occupations engineer
Tech areas Helicopter, Steam, Marine, LTA, Propulsion, Hydroplane
Affiliations
Wikidata id