Today In History:  29 August  [1947]   --  The world's first ram-jet helicopter is test flown by McDonald Aviation.

McDonnell's XH-20 'Little Henry' Helicopter is the world's first ram-jet helicopter, and is test flown by McDonald Aviation. As a functional helicopter it was a simple open-frame steel-tube construction, and although it flew successfully the ramjets were noisy and burnt a large amount of fuel and plans to build a larger two-seat XH-29 were abandoned.

PHOTO: McDonnell XH-20 "Little Henry" helicopter in flight.

USAF photo via San Diego Air & Space Museum Archive

See the Historical Aviation Film Unit website at http://www.aviationfilm.com to get a new history tidbit every day.


Photo Attribution:  USAF photo via San Diego Air & Space Museum Archive  Public Domain  via Wikimedia.