For a fun dive into the wild days that were early-50s aeronautical research, check out the Hiller Flying Platform [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiller_VZ-1_Paw

For a fun dive into the wild days that were early-50s aeronautical research, check out the Hiller Flying Platform [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiller_VZ-1_Pawnee https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiller_VZ-1_Pawnee]. It was basically the segway of the skies. Bay-area folks can actually go see the original at the Hiller museum next to the San Carlos airfield.