Since the aircraft's invention, there has been a long line of helicopter innovations. However, it is difficult to pinpoint when exactly this vehicle was invented.
Many would say that Louis Breguet's 'Gyroplane Laboratoire' was the first true helicopter. Still, some attest that Leonardo Da Vinci had small working models of his famous 'aerial screw.' Others point out that children in China since the 5th century A.D., played with small bamboo flying tops that were based on a concept similar to contemporary helicopters. Whatever their exact origins, rotary-wing aircraft have proven invaluable.
From search and rescue to pleasure flights to heavy lift transport, the helicopter is a versatile and useful vehicle. Its ability to takeoff and land vertically as well as hover midair gives it undeniable advantages over fixed-wing airplanes.
79 Intriguing Helicopter Innovations

77
Single-Seat Helicopters
Get This Bite-Sized Chopper for $35,000

76
High-Heeled Heliport Shoots
Magdalena Chachlica for 'Stop & Look!' by Numpo Bursts with Color

75
36 Killer Aircraft Concepts
From Heliboarding Choppers to Futuristic Jet Fighter
74
Picoflyer
The World's Smallest RC Helicopter
73
Mosquito Helicopters
Is Cikaric Dragan's Design the Future of Transportation?
72
Circular Single-Seat Choppers
The Zero Helicopter Concept is Designed for Aviation Neophytes
71
Hot Air Helicopters
The Sky Voyage Uses a Balloon to Fly Instead of Spinning Blades
70
Multiple Mini Helicopters
The 'E-Volo Multicopter' Boasts Sixteen Small Propellers
69
Personal Spy Copters
Air Hogs Hawk Eye Remote-Control Helicopter by Spinmaster
68
Human-Powered Helicopters
The Gamera Project is Enviromentally Friendly and Physically Demanding
67
Strap-On Choppers
Personal Libelula Rocket Helicopter
66
Prefab Green Retreats
The Eco-Temporary Refuge is a Bold Mountaintop Endeavor
65
Silent Helicopter Blades
The Blue Edge Makes a Move Towards 'Whisper Mode'
64
Hoax Hotelicopters
Faux Flying Hotel Sends Bloggers Who Don't Fact Check Into a Frenzy
63
Helicopter Errand Ads
The New York Lottery's Powerball Campaign Shows the Disgustingly Rich
62
Human-Powered Helicopters
AHS International Hosts 6-Second Vertical Flight Contest
61
Affluent Aviation
The Eurocopter EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style Lets High-Flyers Live it Up
60
Compact Surveillance Copters
Boeing S-100 Camcopter is a Mini Military Masterpiece
59
Personal Multi-Rotor Helicopters
The e-volo Volocopter is the Consumer Version of the Multicopter
58
Robot Soldiers
UN Peace Robots Make Love, Not War
57
High-Speed Hybrid Helicopters
The Sprightly Eurocopter X3 Can Reach 267 Miles Per Hour
56
Otherworldly Aircraft
The Air Alien Green Helicopter is an Eco-Friendly Chopper
55
Speed Barrier-Breaking Choppers
Eurocopter Unveils The X3 Hybrid Helicraft
54
DIY Flying Machine
Individual Lifting Vehicle Kit
53
Flying Hotels
The ‘Hotelicopter' Is Elevated Lodging For the Adventurous and Affluent
52
Hovering Air Craft
X-Hawk VTOL
51
Transportation Trends
The Flying Car Takes Flight
50
Adventurous Spring Fashion
LRG Spring 2011 Collection Puts its Money Where its Mouth Is
49
Historic Helicopter Timepieces
‘Only One Air Huey’ Watch is a Robust Time-Teller
48
Cinematic Christmas Ads
The Sky Cinema HD Campaign Depicts Epic Santas
47
Insectified Rocket Choppers
The Dragonfly DF1 is a Safer and Simpler Way to Fly
46
Hypersonic Helicopters
Sikorsky's X2 Technology Breaks Aircraft Speed Records
45
Car-Copter Concepts
The Zeep CCC Transforming Helicopter Car
44
18 Animalistic Steampunk Creations
From Steampunk Mechanical Horses to Dragonfly Helicopters
43
Hybrid Helicopters
Patented System Controls Energy Flows for Optimal Efficiency
42
Supercharged Superhero Vehicles
The Putsch Racing Turbine Engine-Powered Batmobile is Striking
41
Electrified Helicopters
The Sikorsky Electric Helicopter is for Eco Aviators
40
Fly-In Campgrounds
Go 'Glamping' at New Zealand's Luxurious Minaret Station
39
Police Spy Drones
UK Police Introduce Microdrones
38
Fold-Flat Helicopters
Daniel Kocyba's ‘Hummel' is Perfect for Emergencies
37
Insecticide-Spraying Choppers
The D.F.O Helicopter Brings Farming into the Future
36
Futuristic Surveillance Helicopters
This Aerial Rescue Chopper is an Advanced Multipurpose Machine
35
Personal Aerial Vehicles
Gareth Padfield's myCopter Would Reduce Traffic and Carbon Emissions
34
Flying Feline Helicopters
The Orvillecopter is a Disturbing Creation That Uses a Dead Cat to Soar
33
Heliboarding Choppers
Snowboarders Can Hit Up Super Gnarly Slopes in the AvA 299 DROP
32
Adventurous Gyrocopters
The Fliege Supergiro by Daniel Kocyba Updates the Personal Helicopter
31
Smartphone Controlled Helicopters
The Griffin HELO TC Assault Helicopter
30
Insect Inspired Flight
Igarashi Single Person Helicopter
29
Flying Dino Mobiles
The Triceracopter Creates Dinosaur Helicopter Offspring Art
28
Ultra-Extravagant Escapes
The La Mamounia Resort in Marrakech Treats You like Royalty
27
Snowslide-Scouring Choppers
The Airborne Avalanche Rescue System Locates Burried Victims
26
All-Terrain Ambulances
The 'RT112' by Tomasz Siemek is the Ultimate Rescue Vehicle
25
Taser-Armed Toys
The ShadowHawk is an RC Helicopter That Fights Criminals
24
Hovering Attack Humvees
The Pentagon's Transformer FX Will Take Infantry Combat to the Skies
23
Helicopter-Humvee Hybrids
The Transformer TX Project Seeks to Create a Militarized Flying Car
22
Anti-Sand Beach Blankets
Say Goodbye to Gritty Grains with the Sandless Beach Mat
21
Avian Chopper Toys
Harass Green and Yellow Pigs with the Angry Birds Helicopter
20
Unmanned Helicopters
Swiss UAV's NEOS300 has a Unique Aerodynamic Design
19
Unmanned Rescue Helicopter
TGR Helicorp's Alpine Wasp
18
Dragonfly Helicopters
'Animals' by Job van der Mole Modifies Insects Into Worker Bots
17
Hazardous Sky-High Films
'The Art of the FLIGHT' Presents Snowboarders with a Death Wish
16
Electrified Commercial Airliners
The Boeing Sugar Volt Looks to Fire Up the Skies in 2035
15
Alien Robo-Copters
The ‘Cargonaut' Humanoid Robot Is A Personal Flying Courier
14
Aerial Drug Sniffing
Dutch Police Use 'Canna Chopper' To Find Cannabis
13
Mini Remote-Controlled Choppers
Black Ghost Helicopter Puts Fun in the Palm of Your Hand
12
Autonomous Teamwork Robots
The Flying GRASP Lab Quadrocopters are Frighteningly Precise
11
Disaster Domicile Drops
Parachute Shelter Delivers Tents from the Air to Victims on Broken Ground
10
Topsy Turvy Helicopter Propellers
The Upside Down Ceiling Fan by Raffaele Iannello is Industrial
9
Power-Beamed Flight
This LaserMotive Laser-Powered Helicopter Flies for Over 12 Hours
8
Personal Security Copters
'Guardian Angel' Communicates With Others When in Need
7
Remote Control Curse Words
The Fuck Volant Helicopter Lets Users Pilot a Profanity
6
Autonomous Aerobatics
The Stanford Aircraft Teaches Itself to Fly
5
Troubled Pakistan Portrayals
These Morgan Schweitzer Works are Visceral
4
Airborne Music Performances
The Birmingham Opera Company Prepares for a Helicopter Show
3
Illegal Remote-Controlled Flights
Cell Phone Delivery Plot Grounded at Brazilian Prison
2
Next-Day Air Infirmaries
Kukli Han's Mobile Hospital is Made to Treat Victims of Natural Disasters
1
Hanging Helicopter Lamps
The Viable London Deadgood Strip Light is Simple and Unique
Related Ideas
Efficient Micro Living Trailers
The Aerocabin One Supports Comfortable Camping Anywhere
Two-in-One Kids Scooter Designs
This Children's Electric Scooter Concept is Adjustable
Modified Wheelchair Designs
Leaning Wheelchair Design Reduces Effort and Enhances Mobility
Smartphone Gimbal Concepts
Woojin Jang Designs the Sphere Gimbal Concept for Smartphones
Multifunctional Transport Buses
The Bubblic Public Imagines the Future of Public Transit
Multipurpose Flashlight Concepts
Onurhan Demir Illuminates Versatility with This Flashlight Design
Watersport-Minded Concept Campers
This Camper Features Separate Wet and Dry Zones
Modular Monowheel Hoverboards
The Conceptual 'NAO.WHEEL' Works in a Variety of Orientations
Honeycomb-Shaped Wind Turbines
This Bladeless Wind Turbine Design is Easy to Implement Anywhere
Rotating Button Panel Smartphones
The Conceptual 'PHONE ONE' by Wayne Lu Adapts to Usage Needs
Expanding Off-Grid Electric RVs
The Electric Transformer House is Sustainable and Luxurious
Tilting Three-Wheeled EVs
The Kairos EV Uses a Tilt Functionality for Greater Stability
Multi-Person Scooter Designs
The Conceptual 'Hop' Scooter Platform Imagines a New Commuter Option
Off-Road Frontline Medic Trailers
The 'Life Chariot' Supports Medics in the Field
Transparent Electric Cafe Racers
The CR-Dos Ghost Concept Motorcycle by Gurmukhi Bhasin is Agile
Inflatable Accordion-Style Helmets
The Ventete aH-1 Micro-Collapsible Helmet is Highly Portable
Multipurpose Camping Lights
The 'Prometheus 1' Offers Lantern and Lighter Functionality
Curvaceously Classy Campervans
This Luxurious Campervan Swaps Hard Interior Lines For Soft Curves
Utilitarian Cargo-Hauling Scooters
The 'Scootility' Electric Scooter Offers Ample Storage Space
Two-Wheeled EV Concepts
The 'SHANE' Two-Wheeled Electric Car Concept Has Space for Five
Terrain-Combating Electric Bikes
Segway Introduces the Xyber with Intelligent Systems
Nature-Inspired Solar Panel Trees
New World Wind Develops the Aeroleaf Hybrid Technology
Tactical Campsite Seating Solutions
The Filson x Helinox Savanna Chair is Durable and Stylish
Urban Mobility Chairs
Honda Robotics is Testing a Powered Chair Paired with VR Headset Devices
Expanding Camper Van Concepts
The Chery Journeo Concept Camper Van Supports Comfy Living
Telescoping Component Kitchen Appliances
The Hybrid Kitchen Aid by Rishikesh Sonawane is Intuitive
Long-Distance Electric Scooters
The 'Pro.Zui' Electric Scooter Concept by Ognjen Docic is Sleek
Mesmerizing Gyroscopic Desk Toys
The Gyro Spin Spectre from Ghost Design is Precision-Machined
Nostalgic Flip Phone Concepts
The Nokia N90 by Viet Doan Duc Reimagines a Vintage Design
Bespoke Electric Convertibles
Cadillac Unveils its Luxurious SOLLEI Concept
Four-Wheeled Hybrid Bike Designs
The Karver Cyle Concept K1 by Kip Kubisz is Performance-Driven
Self-Stabilizing Photography Drones
The HOVERAir X1 Self-Flying Camera Weighs Just 125-Grams
Shapeshifting Electric Rickshaw Scooters
The Surge S32 Has an Interchangeable Body Frame
Gen Z-Targeted Scooter Models
The Conceptual 'Omni' Electric Scooter is Customizable
Seven-in-One Camper Lanterns
The LOVORK Modular Camping Lantern Has a Multifunctional Form
Hovering Soccer Referee Drones
The 'Referee' Drone by Seungmin Ha Tracks the Entire Game
Digitized Gas Lamp Lanterns
The Conceptual 'AUGE' Camping Lantern Modernizes a Classic
Supersonic Aircraft-Inspired EVs
The Conceptual Concorde 20+ Features Aviation Inspiration
Illuminated Drone Shows
Ralph Lauren Commemorates its ‘Very Ralph’ Documentary in Shanghai
Sustainable Multi-Person Scooters
Of My Imagination Designs the Hop Vehicle for Urban Spaces
Water-Ready Sports Car Concepts
The Citroën Above and Under by Sangheon Chung is Transformative
Revolutionary eVTOL Air Taxis
This Craft is Designed For Short-Haul Aerial Journeys
Transforming Beach-Ready Camping Trailers
The Hobby Beachy 420+ Helps Revive Beach Culture
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Groundbreaking Electric Vehicle Line-Ups
Honda Debuts Two Concepts Models in the Honda 0 Series
Unique AI Design Concepts
Movr Envisions a Rideable Ai-Powered Personal Assistant.
Revolutionary Cooking System Concepts
Tim Chen Designs the Magic Cube Cooking System
Eco-Friendly Stratospheric Aircrafts
Sceye HAPS is Helium-Filled and Suited for a Range of Tasks
Agile Four-Wheeled eBikes
The Acticycle Bike Car Hybrid is Designed to Be Shared
Infrared Light Hair Dryers
L'Oréal Groupe Unveiled AirLight Pro at CES 2024
Relaxing Airplane Seat Designs
The Tranquil Airlines Seating Technology Has a Rocking Mechanism
Elegant Shape-Shifting Concept Bikes
Richard Huang Designs the Very Sleek Project M³ Motorbike
Raised Tactical Camping Tents
Jake Lah Designs the Helinox Tactical Cot Tent Resting Above Ground
Hybrid Racing Camera Drones
The DJI FPV2 by Kim Leung-cheol Has a Hasselblad Camera System
Next-Gen Wildfire Rescue Drones
The Firefly X-01 Fire Rescue Drone Assists Human Firefighters
Retro-Inspired Two Seater EVs
The Pininfarina DYNO by Kanishq Palav Has Hubless Wheels
Electric Scooter Concepts
Harley Davidson's LiveWire Unveils Cutting-Edge Scooter Concept
Solo Traveler Photography Drones
The OPPO Levi Drone Concept by Fengrui Wang is Dynamic
Pet-Friendly Scooter Designs
The 'Petro' Scooter Concept Safely Transports Pets with the Rider
Sleek Senior Walker Concepts
The Conceptual Suzuki Go! Motorized Walker Has a Wrap-Around Frame
Tourism-Ready Autonomous Aircrafts
Ehang Holdings Limited Delivers Batch of EH216-S eVTOL
Folded Mouse Design Concepts
NAK Studio Presents the Portable Folded Mouse Concept
Smart Ceiling Fan Concepts
The FanPro Concept is Inspired by Custom Smartphones
Three-Wheeled Electric Bikes
The Veemo Velomobile from ENVO is a Stable, Efficient Vehicle
Otherworldly Themed Rocking Chairs
Mavimatt Presents a Look at the UFO Rocking Chair Design
Origami-Inspired Lit Table Concepts
Sonakshi Gupta Designs the Dynamic LightUP Concept
Escapism Electric Vehicle Concepts
The 'Trekker' Concept Vehicle is Imagined for Urbanites in 2030
Lightweight Outdoor Furniture Stores
Helinox Launches Its First European Flagship Store
War Plane-Inspired Off-Grid Homes
Peter Markos Designs the Tiny Monocoque Cabin
Emissions-Free eVTOL Aircraft
This Aircraft Will Utilize a Liquid Hydrogen Powertrain
Hydrogen-Powered Superyacht Models
Feadship Unveils the Project 821 Hydrogen Superyacht
Multifunctional Portable PC Systems
Sun-il Kim Designs the Cylin Concept with a Cylinder Shape
Hydrogen-Powered Concept Vehicles
Yamaha Unveils its Hydrogen-Powered Golf Cart, the 'Drive H2'
VR Electric Mobility Wheelchairs
Honda Presents the Extended Reality UNI-ONE Wheelchair
Nut-Harvesting Electric Machinery
Caterpillar Launches a New Electric Nut Harvester
Futuristic Angular Luxe Campers
Living Vehicle Designs the CyberTrailer with an Angular Form
All-Electric Luxury Cars
Lamborghini Unveils the Lanzador Concept, Its Inaugural All-Electric Auto
Autonomous Cargo Gliders
DZYNE Delivers The Grasshopper Cargo Glider to the U.S. Air Force
Biomimicry Bird-Like Drones
The Bionic Bird X-Fly Drone Soars, Dives and Flutters Through the Air
Adventurous Outdoor Tool Concepts
Kazuya Washio Designs the Yamaha Outdoor Tools Concept
Accessible Space Travel Systems
This Space Elevator Concept by Jordan William Hughes is Wondrous
Single-Wheeled Modular Concepts
Nao.Design Creates the NAO.WHEEL Transport Concept
Hat-Like Fabric Illuminators
The 'Flying Lamp' Has a Wavy, Contoured Construction
Collaborative Vehicle Concepts
Kia Corporation and LG Electronics Debut Mobility Solutions
Industrial Folding Mouse Designs
The Conceptual Emergency Foldable Mouse is Angular
Weekend Excursion City Vehicles
The Playbox Urban Mobility Vehicle is Imagined for 2040
Amphibious VTOL Drones
The 'VT-Naut' Craft Can Make Safe Landings On Water
Multifunctional Personal Mobility Devices
The Modi Fuses a Skateboard, Scooter, and Hoverboard
Geometric Rocking Chair Concepts
A Team of Designers Create the Oval Rocking Chair Idea
Collaborative Travel Planning Tools
Hollihopper Offers Live Collaboration to Organize Itineraries
Six-Wheel Drive Concept EVs
The Land AIrcraft Carrier by XPENG AEROHY is Made for Exploration
Hydrofoil Technology Electric Boats
Vessev Introduces the Impressive VS-9 Electric Boat
Safety-Focused Automotive Technologies
Geely Auto Debuts Innovations at Auto Shanghai 2025
Artful Handheld Vacuum Concepts
Seunghyeon Kim Designs the Multifunction Handheld Vacuum Concept
Self-Landing Hobbyist Aircrafts
The Epic Aircraft E1000 AX Features Garmin Autoland
Compact Two-Seat Helicopters
This Helicopter Uses Fly-By-Wire Systems For Easy Operation
Bird-Diverting Robotic Systems
This System Helps Prevent Birds From Colliding With Power Lines
Luxurious Superyacht Airship Concepts
Lazzarini Design Studio Presents the Colossea Superyacht
Flying Umbrella Prototypes
This Hands-Free Device Hovers Above You to Protect From the Rain
Luxury Winter Chairlifts
Banff Sunshine Village Gears Up to Debut the Super Angel Luxury Chairlift
Levitating Firefighting Robots
This Prototype Robot Can Blast Water From a Safe Distance
Heavy-Lifting Unmanned Helicopters
Kawasaki's 'K-Racer XI' Can Haul 100 Kilograms Of Cargo
Sculptural Electric Motorcycle Designs
Royal Enfield Highlights Flying Flea and its New C6 Bike
Art Deco-Incorporated Chairs
Kem Weber Developed the Airline Chair in a Flat-Pack
Space Travel-Inspired Chair Designs
Of My Imagination Creates the. Aerospace Seat SPN-01
Intuitive Switch-Free Helicopters
The Skyryse One Helicopter is Powered by SkyOS
Long-Haul Flight Toys
Turkish Airlines Created My Travel Buddy for Young Travelers
Mid-Century Sculpted Lounge Chairs
Jamie Mclellan Designs the Artful Plane Lounge Chair
Updated Air Taxi Designs
Hyundai Unveils the New Elevated S-A2 Air Taxi During CES
Research-Centric Hydrogen Motorcycles
This Open-Source Two-Wheeler Aims to Encourage Innovation
Public Flying Air-Taxis
The Public eVTOL Design Project by Joowon Lee Readies for Urban Spaces
Pollutant-Measuring Drone Systems
This Drone System Conveys Pollution Info to a Smartphone
Electric Inversion Table Concepts
Eui Ju Lee Designs the Electric Inversion Concept for Lime
Kid-Friendly Aviation Programs
easyJet's Summer Flight School Challenges Gender Stereotypes
All-Electric Passenger Aircrafts
Joby Aviation, Inc. Launches a New Aircraft for Passenger Service
Sleek Electric Screwdriver Concepts
Simone Rizzi Designs the Delta Electric Screwdriver Concepts
Elevator-Inspired Cozy Sofa Collections
Julien Renault and MOR Design Presents the LIFT Sofa
Levitating Dynamic Ring Lamps
Inovaxion Designs the Levitos Ring Lamp with Various Functions
Semi-Outdoor Foldable Wheelchairs
Robooter Brought Mobility Innovations Like X40 to CES 2024
Luxury Utility Vehicle Concepts
The Pininfarina PURA Vision Concept Imagines the Future
Rugged Rescue Vehicles
This 4x4 is Designed to Carry Out Rescue Missions In Treacherous Terrain
Flying Saucer-Inspired Turntable Concepts
Oscar Olsson Designs the Disco Volante Concept
Historic Bird-Like Contraption Recreations
LEGO Icons Creates the Flying Machine Set by da Vinci
Lightweight Four-Wheeled Bikes
The Acticycle Fuses Elements of a Car and a Bike Together
Supercar-Inspired Submersibles
The U-Boat Worx Super Sub is Designed with a Long Tail
Ultra-Premium Electric Hypercars
HiPhi Unveils the New HiPhi A Electric Hypercar
Wireless Clock Charger Concepts
Nihoy Lahiri Designs the Multifunctional Zenith Clock Concept
Sleek Structural Rocking Horses
Fritz Hansen Designs a Modern Rocking Horse Chair
Shaded Modern Outdoor Furniture
mmcité street furniture Designs the UFO Shelter for Outdoors
Inflatable Campsite Couch Designs
The BOTE Aero Couch Allows for Setup Anywhere
Surrealist Story-Backed Hotels
Philippe Starck Designs the Maison Heler Hotel
All-Direction Wobbling Rocking Chair
Ellie Kim Designs a Chair with a Moving Circular Base
Sustainable Transportation System Concepts
Xiqiao Wang Designed the Eco-Friendly TREO Concept
Six-Seater Adventure Vehicles
The Mitsubishi D:X Concept1 is Suited for Off-Road Adventures
Film-Type Vehicle Antennas
LG Electronics Launches an In-Vehicle Antenna for Easy Connectivity
In-Car Coat Hanger Concepts
BKID co Designs a Multi Hanger Concept to Use in the Car
Magnetic Hovering Pen Concepts
A Team of Designers Create the Compact Hoverpen Traverse Concept
Air Balloon-Inspired Lamp Concepts
Kubra Sen Imagines the Creative Air Balloon Lamp Design
Fly Saucer-Shaped Structural Buildings
MAD Architects Introduced the Never Hut in Foshan, China
Flame-Resembling Outdoor Heaters
Yamaha Design Laboratory Creates the Bon-Flame Concept