GPM 0317 ŚMIGŁOWIEC OBSERWACYJNY PKZ-2 Helicopter (1918)

The first real helicopter in the world was built in Austro-Hungary at the end of the First World War. The first tests of the PKZ-2 (PKZ stands for Petroczy-Karman-Zurovec) were carried out in April 1918. Three 9-cylinder Gnome engines with a power of 100 HP each or three La Rhone engines with a power of 120 HP each were used as the drive. The helicopter made over 30 happy flights, where it reached a height of 50 meters, although some issues, such as stabilization in flight, remained unresolved. The PKZ-2 has never been used in military operations.