Bamboo-copter

Bamboo-copter (竹蜻蜓 "bamboo dragonfly") is a Chinese children's toy invented around 400 CE. It essentially consists of a propeller on a stick, and rolling the stick in the right direction spins the propeller, causing the toy to "take off" when it is let go of. This toy eventually made its way to Europe via trade and has been depicted in a 1463 European painting. "Bao Pu Zi" (抱樸子) was a 4th century book in China that described some of the ideas in a rotary wing aircraft. In the USA, these are sometimes sold as Wooden Puddle Jumpers.

See also

• Helicopter