Etienne Œhmichen

Etienne Œhmichen (pronunciation: ), born with Châlons-sur-Marne the October 15th 1884 and died with Paris the July 10th 1955, is a French engineer. He is regarded by certain as the inventor of the Hélicoptère, but Oehmichen said modestly: “I am not the inventor of the helicopter. Only, it is Léonard de Vinci, when it drew its flying machine with revolving wing, in 1486. ”

Biography

Etienne Œhmichen, whose father was ordering École of artillery of Châlons, arrived in the country of Montbeliard in 1897 at the 13 years age and made his studies there before being graduate central École Paris. He made studies on the Aérodynamique, the Cinématographie, the Zoologie and the Paléontologie. He carried out on May 4th 1924 with Arbouans (country of Montbeliard, Doubs) the first kilometer in closed circuit in Hélicoptère, with takeoff and landing with the vertical. He was titular pulpit of mechanical and biological aérolocomotion to the Collège de France. He rests, since 1956, with Arbouans, where he made his historical flight.

Its work

The dynamo

After its passage to the Alsatian Company of mechanical engineering (become Alstom) to Belfort, it creates its Oehmichen-Peugeot workshop, in partnership with Peugeot, with Valentigney, where it invents the Dynamo to replace the headlights with acetylene of the first cars. He also invents the first dipped headlights (patent ever deposited).

The tank

In 1914, it takes part in the engagements in the trenches. Decorated with the Military Cross and the Legion of honor, in 1917, he collaborates in the first tanks produced by Peugeot.

Other work

It is also interested in work on electricity and the light. This passion will lead it to create the first electric Stroboscope and a camera able to seize: 1000 images in one second. In the same way, its interest for the air will enable him to design the compressed-air gun.

The helicopter

1921 : It looks further into its theories on the upward flight and develops its prototypes, financed by the contracts of State. It accomplishes a first flight with the orders of an apparatus equipped with a balloon inflated with the Hydrogène, during 1 minute, with 10 meters height, in a machine with revolving aerofoil, the Hélicostat…

1924 : May 4th, with its second prototype, it constructs the first kilometer in closed circuit on the ground of Arbouans (today aerodrome of Montbeliard). The same year, it carries out 3 minutes a hovering, then another flight with passenger.

1930 : The markets of the State stop (“the helicopters do not have future. ”). Continuous Oehmichen to deposit patents, which the modern manufacturers then could take as a starting point. It continues its research on the Hélicostat, mixing the techniques with the helicopter and the airship, without managing to convince the persons in charge of aeronautics.

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