Moscow. May 25 2021. Universal aircraft designer, scientist, inventor, pilot, industrialist, philosopher, visionary – all these words fit the description of the truly outstanding personality of Igor Sikorsky. As a pioneer, he created the world’s first multi-engine aircraft “Russian Knight” and “Ilya Muromets”, the first transatlantic seaplane, the first serial single-rotor helicopter with a swashplate. More than 90 years ago, he founded the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, which still rightfully occupies one of the leading places in the global helicopter industry. In honor of the 130th anniversary of the great aircraft designer, the organizers of MAKS-2019 held a round table, where they discussed his role in the development of world aviation.
Igor Sikorsky was born on May 25, 1889. Having shown an early passion for invention, he carried it throughout his life, embodying the idea of flight that had captured him since childhood in the aircraft he created. In 1908-1911, Sikorsky built his first two simplest coaxial helicopters without a swash plate. In 1910, he lifted the first aircraft of his design, the C-2, into the air, and in 1911 he received a pilot’s diploma. In 1912-1914 he created in St. Petersburg four-engine aircraft “Russian Knight” and “Ilya Muromets”, which laid the foundation for multi-engine aviation. In 1915, Sikorsky created the world’s first mass-produced escort fighter C-XVI for joint operations with Ilya Muromets bombers and protecting their airfields from enemy aircraft.
The dramatic events of the revolution force him to leave Russia. He emigrated to the United States and in 1923 founded the aviation company Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corporation, having gathered around him talented Russian émigrés related to aviation – engineers, workers, pilots. Until 1939, Sikorsky created about fifteen types of aircraft, and starting in 1939 he switched to the creation of single-rotor helicopters with a swash plate. The most successful of these are the S-51, S-55, S-56, S-61, S-64 and S-65 helicopters. After the war, Sikorsky’s company became a recognized leader in the world market, its helicopters are widely used for military and civilian purposes, they are especially effective in search and rescue and sanitary work.
The memory of the brilliant creator has returned and lives in Russia. A square in St. Petersburg is named in honor of Igor Sikorsky, his name is given to the deeply modernized Tu-160M strategic missile-bomber equipped with new production engines NK-32-02. And the participants of the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2019, within the framework of a round table organized in honor of the 130th anniversary of the birth of the great aircraft designer, discussed his role in the development of the world aircraft and helicopter industry. The honorary guest of the event was the son of the aircraft designer Nikolai Igorevich Sikorsky.
