The history of the helicopter goes back to the early 1900s when several inventors began experimenting with vertical flight. In 1907, a French engineer named Paul Cornu built and flew the first helicopter prototype. However, it could only hover a few inches off the ground for a short time.

In the 1920s and 1930s, several inventors, including Igor Sikorsky, continued to develop helicopter designs. Sikorsky's VS-300, first flown in 1939, was the first practical helicopter and the prototype for many modern helicopters today. During World War II, helicopters were used primarily for reconnaissance and medevac missions. After the war, their uses expanded to include search and rescue, transportation, and aerial spraying. In the 1950s and 1960s, the helicopter tour industry began to take off (no pun intended). Companies started offering sightseeing tours of popular tourist destinations, such as the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. As technology and design improved, helicopters became faster, more reliable, and more comfortable, making them a popular choice for scenic aerial tours.

In recent years, the helicopter tour industry has continued to grow, offering a variety of unique experiences such as wine tours, city tours, and even helicopter skiing. With advancements in technology, such as GPS and weather radar, the safety of helicopter tours has also greatly improved.

At Cocoa Beach Helicopters, we are the leading provider of quality aerial sightseeing and flight experience tours in Central Florida. Starting on the Space Coast in 2010 as Florida Biplanes, we have steadily grown to become Cocoa Beach Helicopters.

We are fully committed to providing excellent customer service and the very highest levels of safety by employing FAA-certified pilots to help you soar over Cocoa Beach, Port Canaveral, the Banana River, the Thousand Islands, and even Kennedy Space Center for an extraordinary experience.

Overall, the history of the helicopter and its evolution in the tourism industry has been a fascinating one, from early prototypes that could only hover a few inches off the ground to the reliable and comfortable aircraft we have today that can take us to the most remote and beautiful places around the world.

When you are ready to book your next helicopter tour, look no further than Cocoa Beach Helicopter Tours for safe, scenic fun!

Sources: The Helicopter: A Hundred Years of Hovering | WIRED; Helicopter Tourism Market Size, Industry Share | Forecast, 2029 (fortunebusinessinsights.com); Helicopter Tours Getting More Popular All Around the World | .TR (tourism-review.com)