American Helicopter Museum & Education Center
Encyclopedia
The American Helicopter Museum & Education Center is located at 1220 American Boulevard, West Chester
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The transport museum focuses on the history, science and technology of rotary wing aviation. The collection contains over 40 civilian and military autogyro
s, convertiplane
s and helicopter
s, including some early generation models. The museum also contains an extensive research library
.
The museum was founded in 1996, and since that time has hosted the annual Rotorfest
festival, featuring static and flying helicopter displays.
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The transport museum focuses on the history, science and technology of rotary wing aviation. The collection contains over 40 civilian and military autogyro
Autogyro
An autogyro , also known as gyroplane, gyrocopter, or rotaplane, is a type of rotorcraft which uses an unpowered rotor in autorotation to develop lift, and an engine-powered propeller, similar to that of a fixed-wing aircraft, to provide thrust...
s, convertiplane
Convertiplane
A convertiplane is an aircraft that converts in flight to change the method to obtain lift, and is capable of vertical take-off and landing. The most common example uses a standard wing in horizontal flight and proprotors for takeoff and landing; the proprotors could be in a tilt rotor or tilt wing...
s and helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s, including some early generation models. The museum also contains an extensive research library
Research library
A research library is a library which contains an in-depth collection of material on one or several subjects . A research library will generally include primary sources as well as secondary sources...
.
The museum was founded in 1996, and since that time has hosted the annual Rotorfest
Rotorfest
Rotorfest is an all-helicopter airshow held by the American Helicopter Museum. Rotorfest is billed by the museum as the World's Largest All-Helicopter Airshow. The Airshow takes place at the Brandywine Airport in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Aircraft static displays were located on the north side...
festival, featuring static and flying helicopter displays.