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My fascination with helicopters began at an early age. Growing up in West Berlin near the East German border, I was surrounded by the constant presence of military aviation. Whenever a helicopter flew overhead on border patrol or other missions, I would stop whatever I was doing and listen—drawn in by the distinctive sound and the sense of mystery surrounding flight. As a child of the Cold War, that era left a lasting impression on me, and it is likely the reason my passion for military rotary-wing aviation remains so strong today.

At the time (1980's), there was no centralized resource that allowed enthusiasts or researchers to trace the history, movements, or current status of individual helicopters. This gap inspired me to begin building my own helicopter database. My earliest attempts date back to 1994, the MS-DOS era, long before modern computers and digital tools made such projects accessible. Despite the limitations, the idea of systematically documenting helicopters never left me.

In 2003, after acquiring my first computer, I was finally able to turn this long-held concept into a practical and expandable project. What began as a personal initiative has since grown into a comprehensive helicopter database, supported by my own aviation photography and contributions from fellow enthusiasts. My goal has always been to combine accurate research with visual documentation, preserving helicopter histories for enthusiasts, historians, and professionals alike.

Today, with the help of more than 700 helicopter enthusiasts from around the world and a dedicated programmer, my database has grown to include over 108,000 individual helicopters, each documented with photos and detailed information at www.htdi-int.com