Rotorcraft Work at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment

Abstract

The A. & A.E.E. has been associated with rotorcraft in this country almost from their earliest days. For example, the records show that a C30A Autogiro was evaluated at Martlesham Heath in 1935. After the outbreak of war responsibility for development work in the rotary wing field was assumed by the Airborne Forces Establishment (later the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment) and the accounts of such developments as the Rotachute and the airborne jeep have since become well known. In 1945 the A.F.E.E. was declared to be the official testing establishment for prototype helicopters and this responsibility has remained until the present time. The A.F.E.E. was merged in 1951 with the A. & A.E.E., becoming the Airborne and Helicopter Division of the latter Establishment.