The first person to fly a helicopter was Paul Cornu, a French inventor. In 1907, Cornu successfully piloted his twin-rotor helicopter, which was powered by a 24-horsepower engine. This historic flight lasted about 20 seconds and reached a height of about 1 foot (30 cm) above the ground.
Cornu’s helicopter was a significant milestone in aviation history, as it demonstrated the feasibility of vertical flight. Although his design was not practical for widespread use, it laid the groundwork for future developments in helicopter technology.
It’s important to note that while Cornu is credited with the first manned helicopter flight, there were earlier attempts and designs by other inventors. However, Cornu’s achievement is recognized as the first successful, controlled flight of a helicopter.