ABOUT JUAN DELACIERVA
Pilot and engineer who developed the autogyro, a working predecessor to the airplane.
His early interest in aviation was spurred on by a national contest to develop military aircraft.
His autogyros, which looked like planes with rotors, were widely used all over Europe.
He grew up in Murcia, Spain.
His engineering designs were further refined by Igor Sikorsky and became the first helicopters.
