Sikorsky - The Early years.

[Dave_Jackson]

Just the facts.

Mart's lead-post in this tread makes the request; "Any translated points would be interesting."

Nick;
This thread [Sikorsky - The Early years.] is an appropriate one in which to follow up on your previous offer to get clarification from Mr. Sergi Sikorsky about the following statements made on the Sikorsky web site;

IGOR I. SIKORSKY-THE MAN ~ His Aviation Firsts

1939 VS-300 First single main rotor helicopter successfully produced in the World.
. . . . . . TsAGI 1-EA - "On August 14, 1932 A.M.Cheremukhin reached altitude 605m."

1943 R-4 First mass produced helicopter.
. . . . . . "The Kolibri "Humming Bird" was the first helicopter put into mass production" [10 BEFORE 1943; plus 14 during 1943 and 1944] "and the only helicopter to make any significant contributions in World War II."

1943 R-4 First helicopter to land on a ship - Bunker Hill.
. . . . . . September 1942 ~ The FL-282 landed on the M.S. Greif.

1945 R-4 is the only helicopter to serve in World War II.
1952 S-55 First anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
. . . . . . "By 1942, the Kolibri was operational on warships with suitable platforms, escorting convoys in the Baltic, Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, and was thus effectively the first military helicopter in the world The helicopter was found to be especially valuable at dawn and dusk when pilots of fixed wing aircraft did not have good visual contact in the poor light. During the day observation was especially favorable in the Mediterranean where the clear water allowed the helicopter crews to 'see' submarines as deep as 130 feet."