![First helicopter flight](/images/record.jpg)
- Who
- Paul Cornu
- What
- year(s)
- Where
- France (Lisieux)
- When
In France, on 13 November 1907, Paul Cornu flew an experimental helicopter in untethered flight for the first time. This event is widely credited as the first free flight of a rotary-wing aircraft, although in reality, it was probably no more than a hop or series of airborne hops. Another two machines were built but the control system proved to be ineffective, and no further progress was made with it.