The first Fw 61 helicopter, first flown untethered - and with an uncovered fuselage - on 26 June 1936. Photo assumed taken at Bremen before Hanna Reitsch flew this airframe inside the Deutschlandhalle. It had been put on display at the entrance of the Fw works at Bremen when it was destroyed by bombing in June 1942. Note that the fuselage was taken from an Fw 44 Stieglitz. The engine drove the two rotors and a small propeller which was only for cooling and gave negligible forward thrust. The location is not certain. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

Hanna Reitsch flying the second Fw 61 at Tempelhof. Later redesignated Focke-Achgelis Fa 61, the type is considered the world's first functional helicopter.

The Focke-Wulf Fw 61 is often considered the first practical, functional helicopter and was first flown in 1936. Only two aircraft were produced with the first prototype, D-EBVU, making its first free flight in June 1936 and by early 1937, the second prototype, D-EKRA, had also flown. Neither of these machines appear to have survived WWII, although this replica is on display at this super museum.