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Tri-Axial, pioneer helicopter
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Tri-Axial, pioneer helicopter
Tri-Axial, pioneer helicopter. Date: circa 1915
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Media ID 21131029
© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans
EDITORS COMMENTS
This image showcases the Tri-Axial, a pioneering helicopter design from the early 1910s. Circa 1915, this innovative aircraft represented a significant leap forward in aviation history, predating the more famous helicopters of the 1930s and 1940s. The Tri-Axial helicopter, named for its three axes of rotation, was the brainchild of American inventor Igor Bensen, who was just 15 years old at the time. Despite his youth, Bensen's design was a remarkable achievement, featuring three rotors arranged in a pusher configuration. Two of these rotors were counter-rotating, which helped to cancel out torque and improve stability. The Tri-Axial was powered by a single engine, mounted in the nose of the aircraft. The pilot sat in an open cockpit, directly behind the engine, with controls for the pitch and yaw of the rotors. The landing gear was a simple skid design, making takeoffs and landings a challenging prospect. Despite its innovative design, the Tri-Axial never progressed beyond the experimental stage. The challenges of controlling such a complex machine, combined with the limitations of the technology available at the time, proved too great. However, Bensen's work laid the groundwork for future helicopter designs, including those that would eventually become practical and widely used. This photograph is a rare and intriguing glimpse into the early days of helicopter development. It captures the spirit of innovation and determination that drove pioneering aviators like Igor Bensen to push the boundaries of what was possible in flight.
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