Autogiro Pioneer: The Life of Jack Richardson

Autogiro Pioneer: The Life of Jack Richardson is a vivid account of the life and adventures of Jack Richardson (1899-1987).

The book is based on his memoirs, which have been edited by his son. In the 1930s, he worked for Juan de la Cierva, the inventor of the autogiro (the forerunner of the helicopter) and was the first person to obtain a commercial licence as an autogiro pilot.

This work involved – among other activities – several hazardous flights across Europe in all kinds of weather. In 1944, he learnt how to fly the new Sikorsky helicopters in the United States and became the first fully trained helicopter pilot in the British Army.

In his later career with the Army and Westland Aircraft, he helped to develop the military and commercial uses of the helicopter, played a major role in the construction of the Heliport at Battersea and was Chairman of The Helicopter Association.

As a young man, Richardson had been a cavalry officer in the Ninth Lancers and a successful orange farmer in Natal, South Africa. He was also a keen racing skier and amateur painter.