Mr Duan Phillips, a retired aeronautical engineer, who previously designed the Phillips Phillicopter helicopter, has designed what has been described as a flying saucer, mis-identified as a home-built hovercraft, but which is described by the designer as a lift actuator disc.

In 1956 Boeing Vertol commenced the development of an all-weather medium transport helicopter for the US Army, this eventually entering service as the CH-47.

Civil examples of the Iroquois series of medium lift helicopters have been operated around the World over the years, a number being operated in South-East Asia by Air America during the Vietnam War.