Breguet-Richet Gyroplane No.II

The Breguet‑Richet Gyroplane No. II, built by Breguet Aviation in 1909‑1910, was one of the earliest attempts to create a true rotary‑wing aircraft. Designed jointly by aviation pioneers Louis Breguet and René Richet, the machine followed the experimental Gyroplane No. I and sought to overcome its instability by adding a pair of counter‑rotating wooden propellers mounted on a central mast. The airframe consisted of a lightweight bamboo framework covered with fabric, supporting two 50‑hp Gnome rotary engines that drove the coaxial rotors through a chain transmission. A simple bicycle‑type wheeled undercarriage allowed for brief ground runs before the rotors generated lift. Although the Gyroplane No. II never achieved sustained, controlled flight—its longest hop was only a few metres—it demonstrated the feasibility of using powered rotors for lift, predating the later success of the Sikorsky and Focke‑Wulf helicopters. The aircraft’s experimental data, especially regarding torque cancellation and rotor synchronization, informed later French and international rotorcraft development, marking it as a pivotal step in the evolution of vertical‑flight technology. Today, the Gyroplane No. II is preserved in the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, serving as a tangible reminder of early rotorcraft ingenuity.