Autogiro Flies over DC

Title

Autogiro Flies over DC

Description

In December 1928, Harold F. Pitcairn piloted an autogiro from Philadelphia to Washington, DC to introduce this new aircraft to Americans. It was reportedly the first extended autogiro flight in the US. Pitcairn was an airplane manufacturer. Paramount Pictures captured the flight over the Mall in this newsreel. It was part of Pitcairn's marketing efforts to sell autogiros as personal aircraft to the public and policymakers.

Creator

Source

Department of the Air Force via National Archives. View original.

Date

12/19/1928

Coverage

Format

Moving Images

Transcription

“Gyro” Flies to Capitol! Philadelphia, Pa. Gyroplane with
whirling wings for lifting power, makes first long flight in U.S. H.F.Pitcairn pilots craft on 135-mile hop. [00:23] Over Washington! ‘Flying windmill’, designed for small landing spaces, hovers above Lincoln Memorial. [00:41] Washington’s strangest visitor gets an aerial view of Washington Monument and the Capitol.

Event Type

Event Sort Date

19281219

Description

In December 1928, Harold F. Pitcairn piloted an autogiro from Philadelphia to Washington, DC to introduce this new aircraft to Americans. It was reportedly the first extended autogiro flight in the US. Pitcairn was an airplane manufacturer. Paramount Pictures captured the flight over the Mall in this newsreel. It was part of Pitcairn's marketing efforts to sell autogiros as personal aircraft to the public and policymakers.

Creator

Paramount News

Date

12/19/1928

Coverage

1920-1949

Source

Department of the Air Force via National Archives. View original.

Geolocation