Igor Sikorsky - the lost genius of Russia
"Father of a multi-engine aviation"Igor Sikorsky is a talented Russian designer who was forced to leave his homeland during the years of the revolution, since he was recognized by her as a political traitor. The whole life of this talented person was devoted to construction, first in tsarist Russia, and then in the USA. In the face of Sikorsky, our country has lost one of the best designers of the first half of the twentieth century, and there is no point in denying this fact.
Igor was born in the family of psychotherapist Sikorsky and grew up in Kiev. The older boy was sent to study at the Kiev Gymnasium, and then to the Naval Cadet Corps of St. Petersburg. In 17 years, Igor entered the Paris Technical School of Duvigno de Lano, and a year later he continued his studies at the Polytechnic Institute in Kiev. We can say that the formation of Sikorsky was brilliant, his relatives predicted a successful career for him, but Sikorsky with 11 years dreamed of the sky. Rather, he was obsessed with the construction of the aircraft. He made his first helicopter in the courtyard of the house in 1909 year. His offspring, the helicopter, could only lift its own weight at nine pounds, but could not get off the ground with the pilot. A year later, another helicopter appears in the same pattern. At the same time, a young student designs snowmobiles with propellers.
With his friend, student of Bylinkin, Igor Sikorsky built a small carport at Kurenevsky Aerodrome, which served as a building workshop for young aircraft designers. The first Bi-1 was born here, but this biplane could not take off - the engine was weak. The stubborn designer did not back down; in June, the 1910 of the year the Bi-2 machine finally took off.
In the 1911 year, the Bi-5 biplane not only took off, but also gave demonstrations by prokat passengers. This light aircraft brought great success to the talented youth. According to the model of the fifth car, Igor Ivanovich built several airplanes, tested them himself, participated in military maneuvers, passed the exam for the pilot's title. In the same year, the sixth more powerful model for the three C-6 passengers was developed, setting a world speed record. In 1912, the advanced aircraft received the gold medal of the Moscow aeronautical exhibition and the honorary medal "For the works on aeronautics and for the independent development of the airplane."
Even before graduation, the young Sikorsky received an invitation to become the chief engineer of the naval aviation and another invitation to the aeronautical department at the Russian-Baltic Carriage Works. The designer leaves Kiev and moves to the capital, having the opportunity to plunge into the aircraft industry and realize their abilities. Thanks to the support of the powerful organizer of the Russian machine-building industry, MVD Shidlovsky, the chairman of the RBVZ management, Sikorsky is making great strides in creating a number of new-class machines: a seaplane, a special aircraft for pilot training, serial, monocoque and piloting. In international competitions of military biplanes in a tough fight, three Sikorsky aircraft were recognized as the best. Model reconnaissance C-10 became the main machine in the Baltic naval aviation. The C-12, with its high maneuverability, was produced for the front. The production of licensed foreign aircraft types was also organized.
Constantly working to improve reliability, first 1913, the aircraft designer designs a four-engine unit for several people. Emperor Nicholas, rising to the giant, who was called the "Russian Vityaz", granted Igor Ivanovich a premium gold watch. So Sikorsky became the ancestor of multi-engine aviation. Under the Vityaz scheme, another name for the “Grand”, heavy bombers and transport vehicles began to be built, allowing repairs to be made in flight. It was “Russian Knight” that glorified the design engineer, making him a national hero. Abroad, similar designs began to be made much later.
At the end of 1913. another seaplane model is created, also with four engines. At that time, the aircraft was considered the largest in the world and was named “Ilya Muromets”. During the years of World War II, Sikorsky created Russian aviation with his brilliant designs. The whole air squadron of airplanes of various types participated in the battles, the engineer was constantly at the front, investigating the work of mechanisms and modifying designs. During the war years, he designed more than eighty heavy air ships of various modifications. Plants were built for the aircraft industry, the development of domestic industry made a big breakthrough thanks to the young designer. Sikorsky was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir 4-o degree.
Production of the six new models was interrupted by the revolution. Mass riots in the country knocked out of the rut of all experts and associates of Sikorsky. The commander of the aviation forces, General Shidlovsky, was brutally murdered by raging sailors on the Finnish border. From day to day, Sikorsky himself was expecting arrest. He was devoted to the Sovereign, piously believed in God and understood that he would not be left alive. The location of the Emperor to Sikorsky was a well-known fact, so the designer left Russia in the spring of 1918, leaving his young wife and little daughter. After working for a year in France and creating a copy of the four-motor giant, Igor Ivanovich intended to return to his homeland. Russia was in flames of civil war, the political situation was unclear, so the designer considered it advisable to continue its activities abroad.
In 1919, he leaves for the United States, where the difficult years of the struggle for existence begin. Despite all the difficulties, Sikorsky did not abandon the design. Four years later, an engineer finds like-minded people among Russian émigrés and opens a small aircraft company, Sikorsky Aeroengineering Corporation. A modest but regular income allows a designer to call a daughter and two sisters from Russia. After some time, Igor Ivanovich remarries the Russian émigré Semenova Elizaveta. In the second marriage there are four sons.
The first aircraft built in the toughest conditions, the twin-engine S-29 for Long Island was the best. The model immediately became popular, and Sikorsky’s company received regular orders. In 1924, the name of the glorious designer gained fame in the United States, and Soviet Russia called him a political traitor.
The aircraft manufacturing firm began creating and selling light single and twin-engine biplanes. So there were models S-31, S-32, S-33 and S34, but Sikorsky wanted to create a machine that could fly over the Atlantic. The designer is again taken for the development of a heavy multi-engine ship S-35. It is not known what influenced the result, but Sikorsky suffered a failure - the plane caught fire at the start. Subsequently, errors were corrected and the design took off, but the giant did not become popular, since time was lost, and the flight across the Atlantic Ocean had already taken place. To maintain the credibility of the company, it was necessary to urgently create something completely new and functional. Amphibious S-38 - a ship for 10 passenger seats with two engines - became the saving masterpiece of the aircraft industry. Miracle ship flew and easily floated, was safe and secure. Now the firm Sikorsky was firmly on his feet, orders were received regularly. On the crest of popularity, the designer, together with the partners, decided to raise a plant in Stratford, Connecticut. Received the company and a new name - "Sikorsky Aviation Corporation."
The team under the leadership of Sikorsky worked "for wear", and already in 1929, the company entered the huge and strong corporation United Aircraft and Transport, which it still has today. From now on, Russian aircraft manufacturers could not care about the sales market. The factories increased the capacity and expanded the staff, but the main engineers were Russian emigrants. Igor Ivanovich’s deputy was an outstanding scientist, specialist in the field of aerodynamics, ME Glukharev. Glukharev's brother also worked with Sikorsky as a designer. There were many talented Russian engineers, pilots and workers in the team, and they were all close friends of the chief designer.
Thanks to Igor Ivanovich, a large Russian diaspora was formed in Stratford. The fugitives from Soviet Russia tried to settle in this city. When the plant rebuilt the church, and the post of archbishop of Western Canada received the first Russian priest Antonyuk. Sikorsky was engaged in charity work, and with his help the Russian school, club, opera and Orthodox church in honor of St. Nicholas were built.
Production of heavy amphibious aircraft, multi-passenger passenger liners for transportation across the ocean has been adjusted. The flying ship S-42, created in 1934, flew through the Pacific Ocean, set many records and, despite its large payload, was a high-speed airliner. Another flying boat S-43, acquired by the Soviet Union, perfectly proved itself in search of the missing Russian crew of Levanevsky in the northern ice. This boat was shot in the famous Soviet cinema "Volga-Volga". The last heavy ship in 1937 was the S-44. After that, the demand for large aircraft unexpectedly fell.
The chief designer was 50 years when everything had to start all over again. Igor Sikorsky returned to the helicopters. He himself flew his first helicopter in the 1939 year. The classical scheme of the new design today is the basis for all models of helicopters. A few years later, improved versions appeared that took leading positions in the difficult competition of a helicopter structure. The S-52 was able to fly across the Atlantic with refueling directly in the air in 1952. Then multi-ton helicopters began to be produced, proving the possibility of their flight with any weight. No one could repeat the model of the Russian designer cars. Sikorsky began to be called "Mr. Helicopter". His latest and best helicopter was the S-58. In the 1958 year, having reached the peak of glory, Sikorsky retired, leaving behind a counselor seat.
Igor was born in the family of psychotherapist Sikorsky and grew up in Kiev. The older boy was sent to study at the Kiev Gymnasium, and then to the Naval Cadet Corps of St. Petersburg. In 17 years, Igor entered the Paris Technical School of Duvigno de Lano, and a year later he continued his studies at the Polytechnic Institute in Kiev. We can say that the formation of Sikorsky was brilliant, his relatives predicted a successful career for him, but Sikorsky with 11 years dreamed of the sky. Rather, he was obsessed with the construction of the aircraft. He made his first helicopter in the courtyard of the house in 1909 year. His offspring, the helicopter, could only lift its own weight at nine pounds, but could not get off the ground with the pilot. A year later, another helicopter appears in the same pattern. At the same time, a young student designs snowmobiles with propellers.
With his friend, student of Bylinkin, Igor Sikorsky built a small carport at Kurenevsky Aerodrome, which served as a building workshop for young aircraft designers. The first Bi-1 was born here, but this biplane could not take off - the engine was weak. The stubborn designer did not back down; in June, the 1910 of the year the Bi-2 machine finally took off.
In the 1911 year, the Bi-5 biplane not only took off, but also gave demonstrations by prokat passengers. This light aircraft brought great success to the talented youth. According to the model of the fifth car, Igor Ivanovich built several airplanes, tested them himself, participated in military maneuvers, passed the exam for the pilot's title. In the same year, the sixth more powerful model for the three C-6 passengers was developed, setting a world speed record. In 1912, the advanced aircraft received the gold medal of the Moscow aeronautical exhibition and the honorary medal "For the works on aeronautics and for the independent development of the airplane."
Even before graduation, the young Sikorsky received an invitation to become the chief engineer of the naval aviation and another invitation to the aeronautical department at the Russian-Baltic Carriage Works. The designer leaves Kiev and moves to the capital, having the opportunity to plunge into the aircraft industry and realize their abilities. Thanks to the support of the powerful organizer of the Russian machine-building industry, MVD Shidlovsky, the chairman of the RBVZ management, Sikorsky is making great strides in creating a number of new-class machines: a seaplane, a special aircraft for pilot training, serial, monocoque and piloting. In international competitions of military biplanes in a tough fight, three Sikorsky aircraft were recognized as the best. Model reconnaissance C-10 became the main machine in the Baltic naval aviation. The C-12, with its high maneuverability, was produced for the front. The production of licensed foreign aircraft types was also organized.
Constantly working to improve reliability, first 1913, the aircraft designer designs a four-engine unit for several people. Emperor Nicholas, rising to the giant, who was called the "Russian Vityaz", granted Igor Ivanovich a premium gold watch. So Sikorsky became the ancestor of multi-engine aviation. Under the Vityaz scheme, another name for the “Grand”, heavy bombers and transport vehicles began to be built, allowing repairs to be made in flight. It was “Russian Knight” that glorified the design engineer, making him a national hero. Abroad, similar designs began to be made much later.
At the end of 1913. another seaplane model is created, also with four engines. At that time, the aircraft was considered the largest in the world and was named “Ilya Muromets”. During the years of World War II, Sikorsky created Russian aviation with his brilliant designs. The whole air squadron of airplanes of various types participated in the battles, the engineer was constantly at the front, investigating the work of mechanisms and modifying designs. During the war years, he designed more than eighty heavy air ships of various modifications. Plants were built for the aircraft industry, the development of domestic industry made a big breakthrough thanks to the young designer. Sikorsky was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir 4-o degree.
Production of the six new models was interrupted by the revolution. Mass riots in the country knocked out of the rut of all experts and associates of Sikorsky. The commander of the aviation forces, General Shidlovsky, was brutally murdered by raging sailors on the Finnish border. From day to day, Sikorsky himself was expecting arrest. He was devoted to the Sovereign, piously believed in God and understood that he would not be left alive. The location of the Emperor to Sikorsky was a well-known fact, so the designer left Russia in the spring of 1918, leaving his young wife and little daughter. After working for a year in France and creating a copy of the four-motor giant, Igor Ivanovich intended to return to his homeland. Russia was in flames of civil war, the political situation was unclear, so the designer considered it advisable to continue its activities abroad.
In 1919, he leaves for the United States, where the difficult years of the struggle for existence begin. Despite all the difficulties, Sikorsky did not abandon the design. Four years later, an engineer finds like-minded people among Russian émigrés and opens a small aircraft company, Sikorsky Aeroengineering Corporation. A modest but regular income allows a designer to call a daughter and two sisters from Russia. After some time, Igor Ivanovich remarries the Russian émigré Semenova Elizaveta. In the second marriage there are four sons.
The first aircraft built in the toughest conditions, the twin-engine S-29 for Long Island was the best. The model immediately became popular, and Sikorsky’s company received regular orders. In 1924, the name of the glorious designer gained fame in the United States, and Soviet Russia called him a political traitor.
The aircraft manufacturing firm began creating and selling light single and twin-engine biplanes. So there were models S-31, S-32, S-33 and S34, but Sikorsky wanted to create a machine that could fly over the Atlantic. The designer is again taken for the development of a heavy multi-engine ship S-35. It is not known what influenced the result, but Sikorsky suffered a failure - the plane caught fire at the start. Subsequently, errors were corrected and the design took off, but the giant did not become popular, since time was lost, and the flight across the Atlantic Ocean had already taken place. To maintain the credibility of the company, it was necessary to urgently create something completely new and functional. Amphibious S-38 - a ship for 10 passenger seats with two engines - became the saving masterpiece of the aircraft industry. Miracle ship flew and easily floated, was safe and secure. Now the firm Sikorsky was firmly on his feet, orders were received regularly. On the crest of popularity, the designer, together with the partners, decided to raise a plant in Stratford, Connecticut. Received the company and a new name - "Sikorsky Aviation Corporation."
The team under the leadership of Sikorsky worked "for wear", and already in 1929, the company entered the huge and strong corporation United Aircraft and Transport, which it still has today. From now on, Russian aircraft manufacturers could not care about the sales market. The factories increased the capacity and expanded the staff, but the main engineers were Russian emigrants. Igor Ivanovich’s deputy was an outstanding scientist, specialist in the field of aerodynamics, ME Glukharev. Glukharev's brother also worked with Sikorsky as a designer. There were many talented Russian engineers, pilots and workers in the team, and they were all close friends of the chief designer.
Thanks to Igor Ivanovich, a large Russian diaspora was formed in Stratford. The fugitives from Soviet Russia tried to settle in this city. When the plant rebuilt the church, and the post of archbishop of Western Canada received the first Russian priest Antonyuk. Sikorsky was engaged in charity work, and with his help the Russian school, club, opera and Orthodox church in honor of St. Nicholas were built.
Production of heavy amphibious aircraft, multi-passenger passenger liners for transportation across the ocean has been adjusted. The flying ship S-42, created in 1934, flew through the Pacific Ocean, set many records and, despite its large payload, was a high-speed airliner. Another flying boat S-43, acquired by the Soviet Union, perfectly proved itself in search of the missing Russian crew of Levanevsky in the northern ice. This boat was shot in the famous Soviet cinema "Volga-Volga". The last heavy ship in 1937 was the S-44. After that, the demand for large aircraft unexpectedly fell.
The chief designer was 50 years when everything had to start all over again. Igor Sikorsky returned to the helicopters. He himself flew his first helicopter in the 1939 year. The classical scheme of the new design today is the basis for all models of helicopters. A few years later, improved versions appeared that took leading positions in the difficult competition of a helicopter structure. The S-52 was able to fly across the Atlantic with refueling directly in the air in 1952. Then multi-ton helicopters began to be produced, proving the possibility of their flight with any weight. No one could repeat the model of the Russian designer cars. Sikorsky began to be called "Mr. Helicopter". His latest and best helicopter was the S-58. In the 1958 year, having reached the peak of glory, Sikorsky retired, leaving behind a counselor seat.
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