Initial flight of the Focke-Wulf Fw 61, the first practical helicopter.

Focke-Wulf Fw 61

First practical, functional helicopter, first flown in 1936

The Focke-Wulf Fw 61 was the first successful, practical, and fully controllable helicopter, first flown in 1936. It was also known as the Fa 61, as Focke began a new company—Focke-Achgelis—in 1937.