While helicopters are a fairly recent invention, their origins date back thousands of years. Children's toys in China during the fifth century BC had feathers at the end of a stick, which resemble a modern helicopter's rotors.Other drawings and conceptions of helicopter-like machines were produced by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century, and Thomas Edison in the late 19th century.

Helicopters are categorized by weight. Specifically, "light", "medium lift", and "heavy lift" helicopters. Light helicopters are those generally considered below 12,000 pounds maximum gross weight. "Medium lift" are generally considered those from about 14,000 pounds to 45,000.

Early helicopter pioneers envisioned that families would own helicopters they would fly from their backyards on everyday trips.The helicopter was to be as common as the automobile. It has not happened yet, but more and more personal helicopters are being sold.There are different types of rotary aircraft.

A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors, each rotor consisting of two or more rotor blades.

A Rotorcraft is a category that use lift generated by wings that revolve around a mast called rotor blades. Several rotor blades mounted to a single mast is referred to as a rotor.

The autogyro is driven by aerodynamic forces alone once it is in flight, and thrust is provided by an engine-powered propeller similar to that of a fixed-wing aircraft.

A Gyrodyne is normally driven by its engine for takeoff, hovering and landing like a helicopter, but which also has an additional propulsion system that is independent of the rotor system.

Some helicopters are built from kits. A person can buy the kit and then assemble the parts himself, reducing the cost of the aircraft. For some of the smaller versions, flying by the seat of your pants has taking on new meaning.