Ship 1, the first Bell helicopter, underwent several visual changes. By the summer of 1943, a wheeled undercarriage was installed, the fuselage was covered and it was painted blue overall. When rebuilt as Ship 1A in 1944 it was yellow. Photo from: Wright State University

Floyd Carlson hovering the second Bell 30 inside an armoury in Buffalo. Since Hanna Reitsch had flown an Fw 61 in the Deutschlandhalle, this was merely the 'first indoor flight of a helicopter in the western hemisphere'. The building seems to be the Masten Avenue Armory. Photo from: Niagara Aerospace Museum

The very first Bell helicopter as rebuilt after a crash in September 1943. Ship 1 was now referred to as Ship 1A. The tailwheel had been moved forward. Later still a nosewheel landing gear was fitted. Photo probably taken at Buffalo Airfield near Gardenville, where Bell's helicopter team under Arthur Young worked in a former garage. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Larry Bell envisioned a thriving market for personal helicopters would emerge after WWII and to be part of it he created the Bell 30 Ship 1A. It proved that a practical personal helicopter was feasible and it led directly to the Bell Model 47. This is just one of many ground-breaking exhibits on display at the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center.