Library & Archives

The Museum’s collection contains over 18,000 items associated with rotary wing aviation. This includes books, technical papers, operating and  maintenance manuals, photographs, videos, drawings, hardware, and important historical artifacts. Our library and archives house many of these items, providing a window into how helicopters have evolved over time and the thinking behind their increasing capabilities.

 

The materials in the archives help to give an understanding of the design challenges of the aircraft. As one example, we have a Bell Helicopter Model 47 D, known as the “M.A.S.H.” helicopter, on display. If you look at it closely, you will see the battery is located on a platform in the tail boom. Our operating manual for the pilot shows that for two-person occupancy the battery should be in this location but for a single pilot the battery should be moved to a platform located in front of the instrument panel; this compensates for the change in the center of gravity of the aircraft.

 

Researchers can request access to the Museum’s library and archives to view our books, photos, films, and artifacts. For more information or to make an appointment, call the Museum at 610-436-9600 or send us an email.