USUBC COLLECTION OF
HISTORIC IHOR SIKORSKY PHOTOGRAPHS

Life and career of Ihor Sikorsky, a renowned Ukrainian-American scientist, engineer, and industrialist.

Ihor Sikorsky (born on May 25, 1889 in Kyiv, Ukraine [then Russian Empire] – died on October 26, 1972 in Easton, Connecticut) was an aviation pioneer in Russian Empire, and is the most renowned helicopter designer in the United States.

Ihor Sikorsky first became interested in rotary-wing aircraft when he produced two unsuccessful experimental helicopters in 1909. He had to “recognize that with the existing state of the art, engines, materials, and—most of all—the shortage of money and lack of experience…[he] would not be able to produce a successful helicopter at that time.” Nevertheless, his visionary efforts are the foundation of the technology that is basic to modern helicopters worldwide.

In 1909-19013, Sikorsky successfully constructed several aircrafts, including four-engine heavy bomber Ilya Muromets, before the Bolshevik usurpation of power in Russia. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1919, he founded the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in 1923, and designed the first workable American helicopter, Vought-Sikorsky VS-300. Sikorsky R-4 became the world’s first mass-produced helicopter in 1942.

Sikorsky designed cargo helicopters gave the U.S. Army one of its earliest capabilities to exploit air mobility with utility and cargo helicopters. His H-19 and H-34 models saw extensive use by the Army in a variety of missions and the development and use of the CH-37 medium cargo and CH-54 heave lift helicopters are further tribute to his engineering genius.

Sikorsky helicopters are utilized in all imaginable ways in many civilian and military domains, they serve as attack aircraft that support ground troops, and transports for soldiers, wildland firefighters, and disaster-relief workers. In 2018 alone, Sikorsky helicopters saved 1,636 lives.

In October 2011, the name of Ihor Sikorsky was given to the former Tankova Street in Kyiv, Ukraine, where the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine is located. National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” and Zhulyany Airport “Kyiv” are also named after the world known helicopter designer.

1910-1919
1914	1914, February 27 Photograph of the aviator Sikorsky (Front) [1914, February 27. AA.] 1914, February 27 Photograph of the aviator Sikorsky (Back) [1914, February 27. AB.]
1920-1929
1929	1929 SIKORSKY AMPHIBION "S-39" [1929. AA.] 1929 SIKORSKY AMPHIBION "S-39" [1929. AB.]
1930-1939
1934	1934, July 3 - Bridgeport, Connecticut LINDBERGH PILOTS GIANT S-42 IN TEST. Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh (right), designer of the giant 18-ton transport plane built for the Pan American Airways primarily for Trans-Atlantic service, the S-42, shown in the plane before its test flight at Bridgeport, Conn., July 3. AP Photo (Front) [1934, July 3. AA.] 1934, July 3 - Bridgeport, Connecticut LINDBERGH PILOTS GIANT S-42 IN TEST. Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh (right), designer of the giant 18-ton transport plane built for the Pan American Airways primarily for Trans-Atlantic service, the S-42, shown in the plane before its test flight at Bridgeport, Conn., July 3. Colonel Lindbergh was one of four aeronautical celebrities, who took a turn at the controls of the S-42. The plane made a speed of 190 miles an hour using only 85 percent of the boat's power. AP Photo (Back) [1934, July 3. AB.]
1938	1938, March 2 - Schenectady, New York Igor Sikorsky, chief designing engineer for Sikorsky Aircraft (Front) [1938, March 2. AA.] 1938, March 2 - Schenectady, New York Igor Sikorsky, chief designing engineer for Sikorsky Aircraft, who will speak Thursday night on "Science and the Future of Aviation" at the Twelfth Steinmetz Memorial Lecture at Mont Pleasant high school, Schenectady, has designed and built a number of large airships for the United States government, latest of which is the "Flying Dreadnaught" XPBS-1, recently delivered to the U.S. Navy (Back) [1938, March 2. AB.]
1939	1939, March 20 - Washington, District of Columbia AT NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE FLYING CONFERENCE. ACME Photo (Front) [1939, March 20. AA.] 1939, March 20 - Washington, District of Columbia AT NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE FLYING CONFERENCE. William R. Enyart, secretary of the National Aeronautic Association; Clark Henderson, president of the Intercollegiate Flying Club; Igor Sikorsky, noted airplane designer of Bridgeport, Conn., and A. R. Stevenson, president of the Private Fliers Association, (left to right) at the opening of the fifth annual conference of the National Intercollegiate Flying Club. The conference is being attended by more than 200 college and sports fliers from all parts of the nation. Prominent fliers will give talks on private flying in relation to Government, airlines, industry and national defense. ACME Photo (Back) [1939, March 20. AB.]
1939	1939, August 5 - Port-Washington, New York NEW WAY TO SURPRISE WIFE. Mr, Mills, sportsman and polo player, of Old Westbury, L.I., shown on the right as he chatted with Igor Sikorsky, noted plane designer, was one of the 20 passengers who left from here today for Europe aboard the Pan-American Airways American Clipper. Wide World Photo (Front) [1939, August 5. BA.] 1939, August 5 - Port-Washington, New York NEW WAY TO SURPRISE WIFE. When Mrs. James-Paul Mills, who waved good-bye to her husband from the decks of the Normandie when the liner sailed from New York on Wednesday, August 2nd, walks down the gangplank onto English soil, she is going to have a surprise. her husband will greet her. Mr, Mills, sportsman and polo player, of Old Westbury, L.I., shown on the right as he chatted with Igor Sikorsky, noted plane designer, was one of the 20 passengers who left from here today for Europe aboard the Pan-American Airways American Clipper. "My wife expected that I would sail on a later boat. She'll be surprised to see me," he said. Wide World Photo (Back) [1939, August 5. BB.]
1940-1949
1943	1943, May 24 - New York, New York TEN AWARDED COPERNICAN CITATIONS. Here, at the meeting, are (left to right): Igor Sikorsky, noted airplane designer, who received a citation; Capt. Frederick Hellenweg, Director of the U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C.; Col. Wladislaw Onaciewicz, Military Attache at the Polish Embassy, Washington, D.C.; and Jan Ciechanowski, Polish Ambassador to the United States. ACMA Photo (Front) [1943, May 24. AA.] 1943, May 24 - New York, New York TEN AWARDED COPERNICAN CITATIONS. Nine American scientists and one Chinese scholar were awarded citations for eminence in widely varied fields of achievement in pure and applied science tonight climaxing a day of nationwide commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the Polish astronomer, Nicholas Copernicus, who died May 24, 1543. The awards were made at a meeting in Carnegie Hall sponsored jointly by the Kosciuszko Foundation and Copernican Quadricentennaial National Committee. Here, at the meeting, are (left to right): Igor Sikorsky, noted airplane designer, who received a citation; Capt. Frederick Hellenweg, Director of the U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C.; Col. Wladislaw Onaciewicz, Military Attache at the Polish Embassy, Washington, D.C.; and Jan Ciechanowski, Polish Ambassador to the United States. ACMA Photo (Back) [1943, May 24. AB.]
1943	1943, June 23 - LIFE Magazine Front Cover SIKORSKY'S HELICOPTER [1943, June 23. BA.] 1943, June 23 - LIFE Magazine Article SIKORSKY'S HELICOPTER [1943, June 23. BB.]
1950-1959
1957	1957, May 7 - Bridgeport, Connecticut SIKORSKY TO RETIRE. Igor I. Sikorsky, 67, of Easton, Conn., aircraft designer best known for his development of the helicopter, will retire this month as engineering manager of the Sikorsky Aircraft division which he founded here. The division is a branch of the United Aircraft corporation. AP Wirephoto (Front) [1957, May 7. AA.] 1957, May 7 - Bridgeport, Connecticut SIKORSKY TO RETIRE. Igor I. Sikorsky, 67, world famed designer of aircraft, including the amazing helicopter, who is retiring from the Sikorsky Aircraft division he founded. AP Wirephoto (Back) [1957, May 7. AB.]
1960-1969
1961	1961 Portrait with a model (DRAFT) [1961. Por] 1961 Portrait at a testing facility (DRAFT) [1961. Por]
1963	1963 Collage with technical drawings (DRAFT) [1963. Col]
1964	1964, September 10 The twenty-fifth birthday of the western hemisphere's first successful helicopter - the Sikorsky VS-300 - will be observed Sept. 14, 1964 (Front) [1964, September 10. AA.] 1964, September 10 The twenty-fifth birthday of the western hemisphere's first successful helicopter - the Sikorsky VS-300 - will be observed Sept. 14, 1964. Representing a quarter century of helicopter progress are, upper left, aeronautical pioneer Igor I. Skorsky, known as Mr. Helicopter; lower left, first flight of the VS-300, which led to today's helicopter industry, with Mr. Sikorsky at the controls; and right, over Washington, D.C., a Sikorsky twin-turbine VH-3A of the Executive Flight Detachment which carries the President and other high government officials (Back) [1964, September 10. AB.]
1964	1964 Weekend gift (DRAFT) [1964. Wee]
1965	1965 Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company (DRAFT) [1965. Sik]
1970-1979
1974	1974, June 6 - Fort Rucker, Alabama IGOR SIKORSKYHall of Fame Photograph (Front) [1974, June 6. AA.] 1974, June 6 - Fort Rucker, Alabama IGOR SIKORSKYHall of Fame Photograph (Back) [1974, June 6. AB.]
2010-2019
2015	2015 Collage - Respect (DRAFT) [2015. Col]