Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky is an aircraft designer of Ukrainian origin.
Place of Birth, Education
He was born on May 25, 1889 in Kyiv.
At one time he studied at the 1st Kyiv Gymnasium, and from 1903 to 1906 he was educated at the St. Petersburg Maritime School.
After that, he entered the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.
Early career
He developed the first model of the helicopter at the age of 19.
In the period from 1908 to 1912, he developed six models of airplanes and helicopters in Kyiv.
In 1911, on an aircraft of his own design, the C-5, he passed the exam for the rank of pilot. In the same year, he set four all-Russian aviation records, conducted demonstration flights and carried passengers.
On December 29, on a C-6 aircraft, also of its own design, he set a world speed record with two passengers. A year before that, he also tested snowmobiles that he designed himself.
From 1912 to 1917 he held the position of chief designer in the department of the Russian-Baltic Carriage Plant in St. Petersburg.
In 1912 – 1914, he created the Grand and Ilya Muromets aircraft, which eventually became the basis for the development of multi-engine aviation.
In 1915, the aircraft designer developed the world’s first escort fighter, the S-XVI. The aircraft was intended to escort the Ilya Muromets bombers and protect their airfields from enemy aircraft.
On February 18, 1918, he left the territory of Russia. First he left for London, and later for Paris.
Emigration
In March 1919, he emigrated to the United States of America (USA) and settled in the New York area. At first, he earned a living by teaching mathematics.
In 1923, he founded his own aviation company – “Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corporation”, in which he served as president.
By 1939, he had created about 15 aircraft models. After that, he moved on to the development of single-rotor helicopters with an automatic skew, which later became widely used in the world.
On September 14, an experimental helicopter Vought-Sikorsky 300, created by Sikorsky, took off in the United States. Its design was based on the first version of the helicopter, which the developer assembled in the summer of 1909.
In the following decades , helicopters developed by Sikorsky began to be used both in the military sphere and in civil aviation. Among the models that have gained popularity are the S-51, S-55, S-56, S-61, S-64 and S-65.
In 1963, he was awarded the ASME Medal, the highest scientific award of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Sikorsky died on October 26, 1972 in Easton, Connecticut.
Interesting facts about Sikorsky
Here are some interesting facts from Sikorsky’s life:
- during his work in America, he developed 17 basic aircraft models and 18 types of helicopters;
- its four-engine aircraft “Ilya Muromets” set records for carrying capacity and was recognized as the best aircraft of the First World War;
- Sikorsky became the author of the world’s first amphibious helicopter with a retractable landing gear, and also developed the so-called “flying cranes”;
- for achievements in aviation, he received about 80 awards, including the John Fritz Medal of Honor for his contribution to applied and fundamental sciences;
- Sikorsky’s helicopters were in service with the US Army;
- in addition to engineering, Sikorsky was interested in religion. He was a believer and left behind several religious and philosophical works and brochures.
