Aviation Pioneer, Inventor. He pioneered early Russian aviation while in his teens and had the longest continuous aeronautical career in history with more than 60 years. His early achievements was the world's first four engine airplane in 1913, the precursor to the most successful bomber of World War I. He immigrating to the United States in 1919, founded the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corporation, which is the present day helicopter manufacturing giant, Sikorsky Division of United Technologies. In the 1930's, he designed and manufactured a series of large passenger carrying flying boats. The use of these planes pioneered the first trans ocean commercial air routes in the Caribbean and Pacific. In 1909, in Russia, he had unsuccessfully experimented with rotary-wing aircraft, and his first models failed. He continued to develop his idea and on September 14, 1939, produced the first practical helicopter, the VS-300. A later model in 1943, the R-4, became the world's first production rotary-wing craft. This led to more successful helicopter models being used by all U.S. military services, more than 50 foreign countries, and most of the world's scheduled helicopter airlines. His honors include, the National Medal for Science, Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, National Inventors Hall of Fame and the International Aerospace Hall of Fame inductions. Few advancements in aeronautical science have had such impact on mankind as his invention of the helicopter.
Aviation Pioneer, Inventor. He pioneered early Russian aviation while in his teens and had the longest continuous aeronautical career in history with more than 60 years. His early achievements was the world's first four engine airplane in 1913, the precursor to the most successful bomber of World War I. He immigrating to the United States in 1919, founded the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corporation, which is the present day helicopter manufacturing giant, Sikorsky Division of United Technologies. In the 1930's, he designed and manufactured a series of large passenger carrying flying boats. The use of these planes pioneered the first trans ocean commercial air routes in the Caribbean and Pacific. In 1909, in Russia, he had unsuccessfully experimented with rotary-wing aircraft, and his first models failed. He continued to develop his idea and on September 14, 1939, produced the first practical helicopter, the VS-300. A later model in 1943, the R-4, became the world's first production rotary-wing craft. This led to more successful helicopter models being used by all U.S. military services, more than 50 foreign countries, and most of the world's scheduled helicopter airlines. His honors include, the National Medal for Science, Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, National Inventors Hall of Fame and the International Aerospace Hall of Fame inductions. Few advancements in aeronautical science have had such impact on mankind as his invention of the helicopter.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Inscription
Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky
May 25, 1889
Oct. 26, 1972
"Rare is the man of vision whose dreams become reality.
Rarer still is one whose vision brings a better life to others while fulfilling his own.
Such a man was Igor I. Sikorsky, "Father of the Helicopter,"
aeronautical pioneer, inventor and philosopher."
"I am the resurrection and the life." John 11:25
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