Inventions

    There were many inventions in the 1930s that helped make life easier. The helicopter and the jet engine were the most notable inventions of the 30s because they allowed for much faster travel and paved the way for new and better ways to fly. The invention of the helicopter and the jet engine revolutionized flight in the 1930s as well as for the future.

    The first jet engine was invented by Hans Von Ohain of Germany (Gavrieli et. al). Even though the first jet engine was invented by Von Ohain, credit for the creation went to an inventor named Frank Whittle from England. The first actual jet plane invented was the Heinkel He 178, invented by Hans Von Ohain (Gavrieli et. al). It was first flown on August 27, 1939(Gavrieli et. al). The creation of the jet engine allowed for much faster travel and allowed for much more advanced planes to be invented. Jet engines are still used today to fly many planes, but helicopters are also a popular way of flying.

    The helicopter was also a major invention of the 1930s. First designed by Igor Sikorsky, this opened the door for aircraft that was more maneuverable and could take off and land vertically. Sikorsky's helicopter was the first to incorporate a single main rotor design and tail rotor design. The first test flight for the helicopter was on September 14, 1939, and it lasted just a few seconds (ConnecticutHistory.org). Igor's design allowed for the designing of helicopters we now use today.

    In the 1930s, aviation was revolutionized by inventions such as the jet engine and the helicopter. These inventions opened the door to a new era of flight. The helicopter allowed for aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing, and the jet engine allowed for faster, more maneuverable planes. The helicopter and jet engine changed the way people saw aviation.