Hans-Helmut Gerstenhauer earned a place in history. He would have settled for a job.

While the 1st, flimsy-looking auto-gyro crossed the English Channel in 1928, I am standing where, on September 6, 1945, Hans-Helmut Gerstenhauer, an engineer now working for the Allies, landed the first helo to cross the Channel…

See the rest of my first feature article – four stunning double pages! – for the Smithsonian’s Air and Space magazine by scrolling down, or clicking on this link.

Thanks to my editor Chris Kilmek, and the rest of the editorial team, for their time and support.