Paul Cornu Paintings

Paul Cornu was not an artist in the conventional sense, but rather an inventor and engineer, particularly known for his contributions to the development of helicopters. Born on June 15, 1881, in Glos-la-Ferrière, France, Cornu had a passion for mechanics and engineering from a young age.

His most notable achievement came in 1907 when he designed and built the world's first helicopter that lifted a person into the air. This pioneering helicopter was quite rudimentary by today's standards, featuring twin rotors in a counter-rotating configuration, without a tail rotor. On November 13, 1907, Cornu's helicopter managed to lift him about 30 centimeters (1 ft) off the ground for a brief flight of 20 seconds. Although this was a significant milestone in the history of flight, the technology was not yet mature, and the design did not lead to immediate practical developments.

Cornu continued to work on his helicopter designs but was unable to secure enough financial support to sustain his research. He eventually returned to his original profession as a bicycle and automobile maker. Throughout his life, Cornu remained a relatively obscure figure in the history of aviation, overshadowed by other pioneers such as the Wright brothers and Igor Sikorsky, who made more substantial progress in the field.

Paul Cornu's contribution to the development of vertical flight is nonetheless recognized by aviation historians. He is sometimes referred to as the 'father of the helicopter,' although this title is shared with several other inventors due to the complex evolution of helicopter technology. Cornu died on June 6, 1944, in Lisieux, France, but his legacy lives on in the form of the modern helicopters that have fully realized the potential of his early, groundbreaking work.