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Died Age: 83
source:wikimedia.org
Igor Sikorsky
Birthday:
25 May, 1889
Date of Death:
26 Oct, 1972
Cause of death:
Heart attack
Nationality:
Russian-American
Famous As:
Aircraft designer
Age at the time of death:
83
Early Life and Education
Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky was a Russian-American aerospace engineer in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. He is best known for his work in the development of helicopters. His first positive outcome came with the invention of S-2, the second aircraft of his design. Sikorsky was born on May 25, 1889, in Kyiv, Russian Empire (now Ukraine). He was the youngest of five children. His father, Ivan Alexeevich Sikorsky, was a professor of psychology at Saint Vladimir University, and his mother, Mariya Stefanovna Sikorskaya, was a physician. During his childhood, he was passionate about natural science and the concept of flight.
Pursuit of Aviation and Early Designs
In 1903, at age 14, Igor Sikorsky began studying at the Saint Petersburg Maritime Cadet Corps in Russia but left the academy to pursue engineering in Paris in 1906. He developed an interest in aviation principles and started learning about the Wright brothers’ Flyer and Ferdinand von Zeppelin’s rigid airships in 1908. In 1909, while still a student, Sikorsky designed and built his first aircraft, the S-1, which did not achieve sustained flight but marked the beginning of his career as an aerospace engineer.
Move to the United States and Career Growth
In 1919, after World War I, Sikorsky moved to the United States. He worked as a school teacher and joined the faculty of the University of Rhode Island to establish an aeronautical engineering program. In 1923, Sikorsky founded the Sikorsky Manufacturing Company in Roosevelt, New York, later known as the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. With the funds he received from investors, he introduced the S-29, the first twin-engine aircraft in the U.S., capable of carrying 14 passengers and achieving a speed of 115 mph. In 1929, his company relocated to Stratford, Connecticut, and became part of the United Aircraft and Transport Corporation. The company emphasized producing flying boats, including the S-42 “Clipper.”
Igor Sikorsky's Quote's
World War II and Helicopter Innovations
During World War II, Igor Sikorsky introduced the R-4 helicopter, known as the “Hoverfly,” the world’s first mass-produced helicopter, used for various military applications like search and rescue missions. In the late 1930s, Sikorsky designed and built the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300, one of his most successful helicopters. Additionally, he developed the Sikorsky VS-44 flying boat.
Post-War Developments and Military Success
After World War II, Sikorsky continued to develop helicopters for military use, introducing the S-51 and S-55 models, which became popular for applications like medical evacuation and transport. The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw was another successful military helicopter that played a significant role during the Korean War and was one of the first helicopters used for medical evacuation in combat zones.
Innovations and Legacy
Sikorsky made multiple contributions to helicopter technology, including innovations in rotor blade design, tail rotor configurations, and stability control systems. In 1967, Igor Sikorsky was awarded the National Medal of Science in Engineering, one of the highest scientific honors in the United States, in recognition of his contributions to aviation and helicopter development. Igor Sikorsky passed away on October 26, 1972, in Easton, Connecticut, United States, at the age of 83. Sikorsky’s inventions in aviation and his contributions to helicopter technology had a lasting impact on transportation and military operations.
Profile Snapshot
Name:
Igor Sikorsky
Popular Name:
Igor Sikorsky
Gender:
Male
Cause of Death:
Heart attack
Spouse:
Olga Fyodorovna SimkovitchElisabeth Semion
Place of Birth:
Kiev, Kiev Governorate, Russian Empire
Place of Death:
Easton, Connecticut, US
Occupation / Profession:
Aircraft designer
Personality Type
Adventurer: Flexible and charming artists, always ready to explore and experience something new. He possessed a strong inclination towards adventure.
Igor Sikorsky's Interesting Facts
In addition to his engineering achievements, Sikorsky was a deeply spiritual man who wrote two philosophical books: "The Message of the Lord's Prayer" and "The Invisible Encounter".
Sikorsky piloted the first successful flight of his VS-300 helicopter design on September 14, 1939, marking a major breakthrough in vertical flight technology.
Sikorsky designed and flew the world's first successful four-engine airplane, the "Russky Vityaz", in 1913 when he was just 24 years old.
After immigrating to the United States in 1919, Sikorsky founded the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in 1923, which became a leading helicopter manufacturer.
Achievements & Awards
Daniel Guggenheim Medal (1951)
John Fritz Medal (1968)
Howard N. Potts Medal (1933)
Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy (1966)
ASME Medal (1963)
Order of St. Vladimir
National Medal of Science (1967)
External Links