Chicago's Forgotten Helicopter Airways - The Rise and Fall of Urban Air Transport in the 1940s-1960s

Explore a fascinating 12-minute historical documentary examining Chicago's pioneering helicopter airway system from the 1940s and 1950s. Learn about the innovative "Chicago Helicopter Airways" that established designated flight paths above the city's lakefront and major highways, connecting downtown Chicago with airports and suburban areas. Discover how this ambitious urban air transport initiative became one of the few scheduled passenger helicopter services in the United States, and understand the factors that led to its eventual decline by the late 1960s, including high operational costs and limited passenger demand. Hosted by Ryan Socash as part of the IT'S HISTORY series, delve into this forgotten chapter of Chicago's aviation history through carefully curated historical footage and expert narrative.