The Great "Igor"
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The Great "Igor"
A little help my friends, during this recent enforced holiday period, I was watching one of these Docu's on thing that have happend in the last century, and flickering into view came a Crane like structure with wheels on each of three corners,and two possibly three Rotors, all seemed to be driven by rubber bands and angular hung pulleys, this was said to be the very first helicopter, designed and piloted by "Igor Sikorski", the thing is, his head was adorned with a Trilby hat which stayed on for the entire 15 seconds of the flight, two questions, did Igor test his first Heli?, and was it in USSR or USA?, I hope someone else saw it as well!
<img src="smile.gif" border="0">
<img src="smile.gif" border="0">
Indeed, it is an early variant of the Sikorsky VS-300. The machine was built and flown in the United States.
There were a few variants of the VS-300 created, but all were piloted by the fedora wearing Igor Sikorsky.
On floats (or are those early airbags? 
Or wheels.
And finally the legend of that Sikorsky
<a href="http://www.sikorskyarchives.com/fedora.html" target="_blank">fedora.</a>
Sikorsky have the simulator used to experiment on controlling this device and bring it down to the HAI most years, so you can fly it yourself.
HAI is in Orlando this February, maybe time for a cheap trip to see all those helicopters, er; I mean family holiday in the sun!
There were a few variants of the VS-300 created, but all were piloted by the fedora wearing Igor Sikorsky.
On floats (or are those early airbags? Or wheels.And finally the legend of that Sikorsky
<a href="http://www.sikorskyarchives.com/fedora.html" target="_blank">fedora.</a>
Sikorsky have the simulator used to experiment on controlling this device and bring it down to the HAI most years, so you can fly it yourself.
HAI is in Orlando this February, maybe time for a cheap trip to see all those helicopters, er; I mean family holiday in the sun!
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>>Sikorsky have the simulator used to experiment on controlling this device and bring it down to the HAI most years, so you can fly it yourself.<<
Hmmm .... Flying the Fedora .... should prove to be interesting hehe ....
Hmmm .... Flying the Fedora .... should prove to be interesting hehe ....
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The great Igor built his first helicopter in 1909. It looked like a twelve-foot feather duster and it was crap. So much so that Igor built fixed-wing for the next 30 years. Always he dreamed of rotary wing flight, however, and when he went back to helicopters he said it felt like a rebirth. On a point of millinarial inexactitude, his hat was a Homburg.
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Speaking of emulating the boss one of the tech reps wore a similar hat. One day on his way out to an aircraft carrier the hat was blown off of the reps’ head and into the water. In the following week when he submitted his expense report he claimed $10.00 for the hat. Mr. John Hamlet the Field Service manager rejected it. The following week the same claim was made and it was once again rejected. The third submittal met the same fate. On the next submittal of the mans’ expense report he added a notation stating that the hat was in there, try and find it. Mr. Hamlet let it slide and the man got reimbursed for his hat.
I read all of the stories and anecdotal material on the Sikorsky web site but there was no mention of me knocking Mr. Sikorsky on his bum.
I read all of the stories and anecdotal material on the Sikorsky web site but there was no mention of me knocking Mr. Sikorsky on his bum.
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Mightygem,
Sergei Sikorsky told me that the night of that accident, Igor came home with a torn suit, and when asked how his day went, he said, "Not bad."
He was the essential designer-pilot-genius, at home in the air, in a lecture hall, in the hangar, and in a group of pilots.
Sergei Sikorsky told me that the night of that accident, Igor came home with a torn suit, and when asked how his day went, he said, "Not bad."
He was the essential designer-pilot-genius, at home in the air, in a lecture hall, in the hangar, and in a group of pilots.
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From my post above: “I read all of the stories and anecdotal material on the Sikorsky web site but there was no mention of me knocking Mr. Sikorsky on his bum”.
I figured that someone would question my statement especially Nick but it seems that everyone stayed away in fear of some major blow up on my part.
Here is the story. While on my training program at Sikorsky I was assigned to work in the engineering department. This was at the old South Avenue plant and the engineering department was on the second floor, which was also the location of the office of Mr. Sikorsky. The men’s’ room was immediately adjacent to the row of drafting tables and was separated by an open passageway that ran from one end of the department to the other. During my work I became aware that I had to use the facilities. The doors to the men’s’ room swung both inward and outward. When I finished I pushed on the exit door and I guess I pushed a bit hard. The reason for the resistance was that Mr. Sikorsky was trying to enter the men’s’ room and my extra effort knocked him off balance and he fell down. When I realized what I had done I along with several other engineers helped him up. I apologized profusely and he being the person that he was he accepted responsibility. Several months later at the completion of the training program we (8 of us) were taken to Mr. Sikorskys' office for an introduction and to have our picture taken with him. We were each introduced to him and when it was my turn my boss introduced me and Mr. Sikorsky stated that we had met before and that was the end of that. My boss never did find out what I had done.
I figured that someone would question my statement especially Nick but it seems that everyone stayed away in fear of some major blow up on my part.
Here is the story. While on my training program at Sikorsky I was assigned to work in the engineering department. This was at the old South Avenue plant and the engineering department was on the second floor, which was also the location of the office of Mr. Sikorsky. The men’s’ room was immediately adjacent to the row of drafting tables and was separated by an open passageway that ran from one end of the department to the other. During my work I became aware that I had to use the facilities. The doors to the men’s’ room swung both inward and outward. When I finished I pushed on the exit door and I guess I pushed a bit hard. The reason for the resistance was that Mr. Sikorsky was trying to enter the men’s’ room and my extra effort knocked him off balance and he fell down. When I realized what I had done I along with several other engineers helped him up. I apologized profusely and he being the person that he was he accepted responsibility. Several months later at the completion of the training program we (8 of us) were taken to Mr. Sikorskys' office for an introduction and to have our picture taken with him. We were each introduced to him and when it was my turn my boss introduced me and Mr. Sikorsky stated that we had met before and that was the end of that. My boss never did find out what I had done.
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I like his description of what helicopters could do in one of his interviews, asked what the helicopter could do in comparison to the fixed wing his every response is "never", then he describes what the helicopter could do if someone is in the water and his response was" get them out , all the aeroplane could do is throw flowers at them"
What a guy.
What a guy.
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Gentlemen,
To all of you, thank you, the picture's from Cyclic are indeed the craft that was shown, and it is quiet easy to see, that what we fly today is still basically what you can see in those picture's, thank you for all your answers,
To Lu and Nick, it must be something boardering on greatness, to have been in the same company/conversations as this great man! <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
To all of you, thank you, the picture's from Cyclic are indeed the craft that was shown, and it is quiet easy to see, that what we fly today is still basically what you can see in those picture's, thank you for all your answers,
To Lu and Nick, it must be something boardering on greatness, to have been in the same company/conversations as this great man! <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
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I surely regret that I never met Igor personally, I started at Sikorsky about 8 months after he passed away. His spirit is still with the company, however. I have seen how the "Russian Iron Works" makes very strong helicopters, with a high degree of engineering excellence, reflecting his philosophy.
[ 30 December 2001: Message edited by: Nick Lappos ]</p>
[ 30 December 2001: Message edited by: Nick Lappos ]</p>
Re. Igor's test flying...
I read a history of helicopter test flying many years ago which (obviously) covered the great man's efforts. It reported, (paraphrased, not verbatim), that, after the first flight of the first machine, Sikorsky was asked how it had gone. His reply was that everything was fine and that next time out he would be trying to make the thing fly FORWARDS !! Great man, marvellous machines <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
I read a history of helicopter test flying many years ago which (obviously) covered the great man's efforts. It reported, (paraphrased, not verbatim), that, after the first flight of the first machine, Sikorsky was asked how it had gone. His reply was that everything was fine and that next time out he would be trying to make the thing fly FORWARDS !!
Great man, marvellous machines <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
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Many years ago I dated a girl who's mother told me that she met Igor many times in the late 40's early 50's and he told her a story that he was visiting one of his employees in the hospital and as luck would have it there was a helicopter test pilot (working for another company) who was in the same ward or room. The test pilot had an engine failure and crashed, when Igor asked him why he didn't autorotate the test pilot looked at him and said "whats that"
Has anyone else ever heard that story or was I led up the garden path?
Has anyone else ever heard that story or was I led up the garden path?
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Cornish Jack:
Your story is essentially correct! When Igor reported to the United Aircraft Board with the results of the first several months of testing, he used extensive films to illustrate the (then) wonderous maneuverability. An astute Borad member asked why there was so much sideward and rearward but little forward flight depicted on the films. Igor answered, "Yes, we are still working on that!"
Note the aft rotors lifted vertically, allowing them to establish longitudinal trim. This was one way out of the jam (which was caused by the natural backflap of the rotor, and eventually solved by making the longitudinal cyclic twice as powerful as the lateral.)
It was a wild time, as told to me by the fellows who did it, most of whom retired in the first 5 years of my career. I had the thrill of working with the fellow who drove the parts car that accompanied the first helicopter ferry flight from Stratford to Dayton (with a white circle painted on the roof for better identification!), the engineer who helped Igor rig the first VS-300, and the crew chief of the S-42 when it made the Amazon flights with Charles Lindbergh at the controls.
It is wonderful to realize the youth of our industry, and to realize that many things that we see as difficult that will someday be taken for granted.
I admire those who try new things, especially when told it won't work!
Igor once said that it was good when the test pilot was also the designer, because that way bad designers were quickly weeded out! He died at the age of 83, so by definition, he was a good designer!
Your story is essentially correct! When Igor reported to the United Aircraft Board with the results of the first several months of testing, he used extensive films to illustrate the (then) wonderous maneuverability. An astute Borad member asked why there was so much sideward and rearward but little forward flight depicted on the films. Igor answered, "Yes, we are still working on that!"
Note the aft rotors lifted vertically, allowing them to establish longitudinal trim. This was one way out of the jam (which was caused by the natural backflap of the rotor, and eventually solved by making the longitudinal cyclic twice as powerful as the lateral.)
It was a wild time, as told to me by the fellows who did it, most of whom retired in the first 5 years of my career. I had the thrill of working with the fellow who drove the parts car that accompanied the first helicopter ferry flight from Stratford to Dayton (with a white circle painted on the roof for better identification!), the engineer who helped Igor rig the first VS-300, and the crew chief of the S-42 when it made the Amazon flights with Charles Lindbergh at the controls.
It is wonderful to realize the youth of our industry, and to realize that many things that we see as difficult that will someday be taken for granted.
I admire those who try new things, especially when told it won't work!
Igor once said that it was good when the test pilot was also the designer, because that way bad designers were quickly weeded out!
He died at the age of 83, so by definition, he was a good designer!
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When you think how short a time helicopters have been around relative to the history of the world, yet where would we be without them.
They would have been pretty exciting times to be involved.
They would have been pretty exciting times to be involved.
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Wonderful stories. and the Sikorsky Archives are a superb site!!!
At last somebody has found common ground where Nick and Lu actually AGREE!!!!
As long as we don't start talking about the aerodynamic qualities of Igor's Fedora, or the affect it may have had if he'd changed his jaunty angle to an offset of 18 degrees we should be in for a pleasant thread !!!
At last somebody has found common ground where Nick and Lu actually AGREE!!!!
As long as we don't start talking about the aerodynamic qualities of Igor's Fedora, or the affect it may have had if he'd changed his jaunty angle to an offset of 18 degrees we should be in for a pleasant thread !!!
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Typical of a brain in rest/holiday mode, I made a comment in my reply, and then started to think about what I had actually posted, in truth then, how near or far are the machines that we collectivly(no pun) fly, compared with the cyclic and collective control of the machine's that "IS" started with in the late thirty's,
Happy and Safe New Year to you all.
My Regards
Peter B
Happy and Safe New Year to you all.
My Regards
Peter B
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I was given a great book called "Heelicopter - Pioneering with Igor Sikorsky" by William E Hunt, Airlife Publishing UK. He was one of Igor main men and it tells the story of Igors life, but mainly the development of the helicopter. It is a great read. The word "Heelicopter" is not mispelt - that was how he pronounced it.
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Hi,
This is my first post here... For those that are interested in all of the gritty details of Igor's vertical flight development efforts, go look for a book on it: "Heelicopter: Pioneering with Igor Sikorsky", by William Hunt. I managed to score a used copy via an Internet resource; the ISBN # is 1-85310-768-9, and was printed by Airlife Publishing Ltd in England (1998). It has lots of engineering and hand-drawn drawings, and goes into almost excruciating detail. I haven't read it yet (only had it a couple weeks) but IMO it's a required addition to any RW pilot's bookshelf.
cheers,
Dave Blevins
San Jose, CA
This is my first post here... For those that are interested in all of the gritty details of Igor's vertical flight development efforts, go look for a book on it: "Heelicopter: Pioneering with Igor Sikorsky", by William Hunt. I managed to score a used copy via an Internet resource; the ISBN # is 1-85310-768-9, and was printed by Airlife Publishing Ltd in England (1998). It has lots of engineering and hand-drawn drawings, and goes into almost excruciating detail. I haven't read it yet (only had it a couple weeks) but IMO it's a required addition to any RW pilot's bookshelf.
cheers,
Dave Blevins
San Jose, CA