Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky (May 25, 1889 – October 26, 1972) was a Russian of Polish descent and a pioneer of aviation who designed the first four-engine aeroplanes and the first modern helicopter.

Igor Sikorsky was born in Kiev, Russian Empire and studied at the Naval War College in St. Petersburg. His early work included the construction, as chief engineer, of the first four-motor aircraft. He was also the test pilot for its first flight, on May 13, 1913. Sikorsky's planes were used by the Russian government as bombers in World War I (see Ilya Muromets).

Sikorsky emigrated from Russia to the United States in 1919, at the age of 30, fleeing the Bolshevik regime installed after the October Revolution.

In 1923 he formed the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Company, which was purchased by and became a subsidiary of United Aircraft, itself now a part of United Technologies Corporation. The company manufactured flying boats such as the S-42, used by Pan Am for trans-atlantic flights and known as Pan Am Clippers.

Sikorsky had experimented with helicopter-type flying machines while in Russia. He brought his work to fruition on 24th May 1940 with the first successful helicopter flight in the Vought-Sikorsky 300 , a machine with a single three-blade rotor powered by a 75 horsepower (56 kW) engine.

The Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation continues to the present day as one of the world's leading helicopter manufacturers.

Further reading

• Sikorsky's autobiography, The Story of the Winged S. (originally published 1938; updated editions, various years up to 1948)
• Frank J. Delear, Igor Sikorsky: His Three Careers in Aviation (New York, 1969) - described as "the only biography"[1]

External link

• Igor Sikorsky article from ctheritage.org (reference)
• Biography from Sikorsky company
• Official Sikorsky historical archives
• Igor Sikorsky. Time magazine. November 16, 1953. (Cover)