Enrico Forlanini

Enrico Forlanini (13 December 1848[1] – 9 October 1930) was an Italian engineer, inventor and aeronautical pioneer, known for his works on helicopters, aeroplanes, hydrofoils and dirigibles.

Enrico enrolled in the Scuola di Applicazione Artiglieria e Genio (Application School of Artillery and Engineers) in Turin in 1868.

[2] Then, in 1893 he worked in Forlì, in a company named Società Anonima Forlivese per l’illuminazione a gas e per la fonderia di ferro.

One of those, built at full scale, used a ladder system of foils and a 60 hp (45 kW) engine driving two counter-rotating air props.

[4] Forlanini obtained a number[quantify] of British and American patents on his ideas and designs, most of which were aimed at seaplane applications.