National Helicopter Museum facts for kids
The National Helicopter Museum is a special place in Stratford, Connecticut, United States. It's a non-profit museum that teaches visitors all about the history of helicopters and the aviation industry in the area.
The museum was started in 1983 by Dr. Raymond Jankowich and Robert McCloud. You can find it inside the eastbound train station building of the Stratford station, which is part of the Metro-North Railroad.
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Discover the National Helicopter Museum
The National Helicopter Museum collects and displays many interesting items. These include pictures and objects that show the long history of aviation and helicopters in Stratford. This town is famous for being the home of the Sikorsky Aircraft company. Sikorsky Aircraft built the first experimental helicopters designed by the inventor Igor Sikorsky.
A Journey Through Helicopter History
The museum takes you on a journey through the history of rotary-wing aircraft. This means machines that fly using spinning blades, like helicopters. You'll see how these ideas developed over time.
From Ancient Toys to Modern Choppers
The museum shows how the idea of flying with spinning blades began. It starts with early ideas like the boomerang and Chinese spinning tops. Then it moves to designs by famous thinkers like Leonardo da Vinci and George Cayley. You can also learn about early experiments with motors. Finally, you'll see how these ideas led to the modern helicopters we know today.
Igor Sikorsky's Amazing Work
A big part of the museum focuses on Igor Sikorsky. His first successful helicopter flight in Stratford happened on September 14, 1939. The museum shows how his early designs led to the many helicopters he built later.
Powerful Engines and Famous Helicopters
You can also learn about the small gas turbine engines developed right there in Stratford. Dr. Anselm Franz created these engines at Avco Lycoming. These powerful engines are used in famous helicopters. For example, they power the Bell Helicopter UH-1 Iroquois, often called the Huey. They also power the large Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
Explore More Helicopter Innovations
Other cool exhibits at the museum include displays on tilt rotor aircraft. These planes can take off and land like helicopters but fly like airplanes. You'll also see current photos and models of aircraft. These include designs from companies like Bell, Boeing, Kaman Aircraft, Robinson Helicopter, and Sikorsky. One very popular exhibit is a working cockpit from a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter. You can sit inside and imagine flying it!
See also
- American Helicopter Museum, Pennsylvania, USA
- Classic Rotors Museum, California, USA
- The Helicopter Museum, Somerset, England
- Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg, Germany
