Igor Sikorsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Igor Sikorsky
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Studio portrait, c. 1950
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| Born |
Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky
May 25, 1889 |
| Died | October 26, 1972 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | Russian-American |
| Alma mater | Kiev Polytechnic Institute |
| Occupation | Aircraft designer |
| Known for | First successful mass-produced helicopter |
| Spouse(s) | Olga Fyodorovna Simkovitch Elisabeth Semion |
| Children | Tania, Sergei, Nikolai, Igor, George |
| Awards | Order of St. Vladimir Howard N. Potts Medal (1933) Daniel Guggenheim Medal (1951) ASME Medal (1963) Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy (1966) National Medal of Science (1967) John Fritz Medal (1968) |
Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky (born May 25, 1889 – died October 26, 1972) was a famous Russian-American aviation pioneer. He was a brilliant engineer who designed the very first airplanes with four engines. He also created the first successful helicopter that looks like most helicopters we see today, with one main rotor and a tail rotor.
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Early Life and Work
Igor Sikorsky was born in Kiev, which was part of the Russian Empire (now Ukraine). He studied at the Naval War College in Saint Petersburg from 1903 to 1906. Later, he attended the Kiev Polytechnic Institute from 1907 to 1909. Even though he didn't finish his formal studies, he was given an honorary engineering degree in 1914.
Sikorsky's early work was very important for aviation. He was the chief engineer for the first aircraft ever built with four engines. This amazing plane was called the Bolshoi Baltiski. He even flew it himself for its first flight on May 13, 1913. During World War I, Russia used Sikorsky's planes as bombers. One famous model was the Ilya Muromets. Because of his great work, he received an award called the Order of St. Vladimir.
Moving to America
In 1919, Sikorsky decided to leave Russia and move to the United States. Europe was still recovering from the war, and Russia was going through big political changes. He felt there wouldn't be many chances for him to design aircraft there.
When he first arrived in the U.S., Sikorsky worked as a school teacher and gave lectures. He was always looking for a way to get back into the aviation industry. In 1923, with help from some former Russian army officers, he started his own company. It was called the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Company. By 1928, he officially became a citizen of the United States. In 1929, his company was bought by United Aircraft, which is now part of United Technologies Corporation.
Designing Flying Boats and Helicopters
Sikorsky's company built large flying boats, like the Sikorsky S-42. These planes were used by Pan Am for flights across the Atlantic Ocean. They were often called Pan Am Clippers.
Even while in Russia, Sikorsky had experimented with machines that could fly like helicopters. He finally made his dream a reality on May 24, 1940. That day, his Vought-Sikorsky 300 helicopter made its first flight. This machine had a single three-blade rotor and a 75-horsepower engine. While it wasn't the very first helicopter to ever fly successfully, it was the first one built with the design that became the most popular worldwide. Many helicopters you see today use a similar design. Another one of his famous helicopters is the Sikorsky Seahawk.
Today, the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation is still one of the world's top helicopter makers. After Igor Sikorsky passed away, his office at the company was kept exactly as he left it.
Personal Life
Igor Sikorsky was first married to Olga Fyodorovna Simkovitch in Russia. They later divorced, and Olga stayed in Russia with their daughter, Tania. In 1923, Sikorsky's sisters came to the U.S. and brought six-year-old Tania with them.
In 1924, Sikorsky married Elisabeth Semion (1903–1995) in New York. Igor and Elisabeth had four sons: Sergei, Nikolai, Igor Jr., and George.
- Tania Sikorsky von York (1918 – 2008) was Sikorsky's oldest child and only daughter. She was born in Kyiv and studied in the U.S. She became a professor of sociology at Sacred Heart University.
- Sergei Sikorsky (born 1925) is Sikorsky's oldest son. He worked for United Technologies and retired as a Vice-President at Sikorsky Aircraft.
- Igor Sikorsky Jr. is a lawyer, businessman, and aviation historian. His son, Igor Sikorsky III, is also a pilot.
Igor Sikorsky died at his home in Easton, Connecticut, on October 26, 1972. He is buried in the Saint John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Cemetery in Stratford.
Legacy
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Igor Sikorsky's achievements have been widely recognized. In 1966, he was added to the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.
His life and work were even featured in a 1979 Soviet movie called The Poem of Wings. A working model of his Sikorsky Ilya Muromets airplane was built for the film.
The Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge, which crosses the Housatonic River, is named after him. This bridge is near the Sikorsky company headquarters. The state of Connecticut has also named him a Connecticut Aviation Pioneer. The Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Connecticut, is also named in his honor.
In 1987, Sikorsky was inducted into both the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Igor Sikorsky in 1914
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Sikorsky Bolshoi Baltisky of 1913, before receiving its pair of pusher engines
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Russian aviators Sikorsky, Genner and Kaulbars aboard a "Russky Vityaz", c. 1913
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Sikorsky S-42 flying boat
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Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane carrying a house
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Igor Sikorsky on Time magazine cover, 1953
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See also
In Spanish: Ígor Sikorski para niños
