 An inventor, in the 1940s Piasecki and some friends from his mechanical engineering classes at the University of Pennsylvania formed the PV Engineering Forum to build helicopters. Their company name didn't include the word "helicopter" because, he said, "people would have laughed." But he had good ideas, and Piasecki became "one of the three primary progenitors of the American helicopter industry," said Roger Connor, curator of vertical flight at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum. "One is Igor Sikorsky, who developed the modern helicopter and placed it in mass production. Another is Arthur Young, who built the first commercially sold helicopter. And the third was Piasecki." He not only invented the PV-2, an early helicopter, but also invented the tandem-rotor helicopter. The dual rotors gave the XHRP-X transport helicopter, or "Flying Banana", extraordinary lifting capability. The XHRP-X, which first flew in 1945, evolved into the Chinook, which can carry 30,000 pounds of cargo. Piasecki also invented the Helistat: an extra-large blimp and four helicopters all bolted to a large frame that could lift 25 tons -- the largest aircraft in the world (shown in photo). The prototype crashed in 1986 in Lakehurst, N.J., just a half-mile from where the Hindenburg crashed in 1937. He died at home on February 11 from a heart attack. He was 88.
From This is True for 10 February 2008 Suggestions for further reading:
 by Connie Shelton Amazon Price: Customer Review: After a taxing investigation (no pun intended) CPA and part-time investigator Charlie Parker decides to take a vacation to Kauai. She takes a scenic helicopter ride with Drake Langston, but gets more than she bargains for when they come across a dea...  by James Joyce Amazon Price: Customer Review: I loved this read. I felt I was with him on every life threatening sortie. I am so much more informed and grateful for his huge commitment to share this amazing set of facts - thank you! I know I'll read it again. I would have given it an easy 5 star...  by Jim Fay Amazon Price: $5.95 Customer Review: This book is quite a bit shorter than I expected. I read the whole thing in 30 minutes. It has good tips and advice in it. This would be a great coffee table book or one to keep in the bathroom.  by Michael Durant, Steven Hartov Amazon Price: Customer Review: The story of Durant's crash and imprisonment is moving. His insight into the Night Stalkers is inspiring. A great story.  by Vivian Gussin Paley, Robert Coles Amazon Price: $14.04 Customer Review: I received the book in a timely manner and I knew the book would be a good read. I've read three other books by the same author and she's fabulous. I was not disappointed with this book either. Thank you to the seller for having it on hand. Newsfeed display by CaRP |
About the HUs
About This is True to This is True
Prev: Poster boy John Alvin Next: Wendy cinematographer David Watkin | |