Al Arabiya (UAE)
Taha Abdel Nasser Ramadan
After the October revolution, mass emigration of various social strata of the Russian population began. In 1918, one of the most brilliant aircraft designers of the XX century immigrated to the United States. The unstable political situation in Russia and threats of violence forced Igor Sikorsky, who many called the “father of aviation”, to leave his homeland and immigrate to the United States in search of a better life.
Igor Sikorsky was born in 1889. The mother of the future aircraft designer, Maria Sikorskaya, who had a medical education, instilled in her son a love of aviation from childhood. It was from her that Igor first heard about the designs of flying machines of the great Italian inventor Leonardo da Vinci, who lived at the turn of the XV-XVI centuries. It was thanks to his mother that flying became Sikorsky’s lifelong dream.
Successful tests in Kiev
At the age of 12, Sikorsky designed the first miniature helicopter model. In pursuit of a dream, he went to study first in Paris, and then in St. Petersburg. Sikorsky returned to his native Kiev only in 1910.
After returning to his hometown, Sikorsky worked on creating a helicopter. After several unsuccessful attempts, he succeeded. He was able to create a model helicopter equipped with an engine and propellers that could reach speeds of about 40 kilometers per hour. Thanks to the creation of the aircraft, Igor Sikorsky became famous.
Gold watch
In 1912, Sikorsky was lucky. He became chief designer in the Department of the Russian-Baltic carriage factory in Saint Petersburg, where he continued his research in the field of aviation. Together with his colleagues, Sikorsky developed a four-engine aircraft that made a great impression on Russian engineers. Emperor Nicholas II himself expressed a desire to see the miracle of aviation technology.
During the inspection, the Russian Emperor was so impressed with the plane that he gave the designer a gold watch. Nicholas II highly appreciated Sikorsky’s talent and encouraged him to continue his research in the field of aviation.
The hit list and the flight from Russia
After the October revolution, civil war broke out in Russia. When the Bolsheviks came to power, Sikorsky found himself in great danger, as Vladimir Lenin’s comrades accused him of loyalty to the Tsar’s court and called him a “bourgeois” figure. In addition, the Communists usually controlled factories and deliberately cut the budget allocated for experiments and research in the field of aviation, preferring to use this money to develop cavalry weapons, which were actively used in the civil war. Simultaneously with the loss of funding, Sikorsky received information from one of his friends that his name was on the Bolshevik execution list, so he was forced to flee Russia as soon as possible.
After escaping, Sikorsky lived in Paris for a while, and then permanently immigrated to the United States of America.
Amazing achievements in the field of aviation
At first, Sikorsky earned money by teaching mathematics at school. In 1923, he founded his own aircraft manufacturing company. The beginning of its activities in the United States was very difficult. Sikorsky faced many difficulties and almost went bankrupt. He was saved from ruin by the financial assistance he received from his friend, the Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. He, like Igor Sikorsky, was forced to flee to America after the October revolution.
In 1924, Sikorsky designed the S-29A, equipped with two engines. The S-29A could carry 14 passengers and reach speeds of up to 185 kilometers per hour. 10 years later, Sikorsky developed the Sikorsky S-42 amphibious aircraft, which was used by American airlines for commercial flights across the Atlantic.
Inspired by the success, Igor Sikorsky began working on helicopters to fulfill his childhood dream and Leonardo da Vinci’s dream of creating an aircraft with vertical take-off. In 1939-1940, he developed the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 helicopter. Two years later, he managed to design the Sikorsky R-4 helicopter, which became widely popular in the US armed forces.
By the way, Igor Sikorsky, who received American citizenship, was able to create more than 30 aircraft, most of which are helicopters.
In 1957, at the request of the White house, a Russian scientist developed the Sikorsky H-34 helicopter, which was intended for regular business trips of US President Dwight Eisenhower.
Igor Sikorsky died on October 26, 1972 in Easton, Connecticut. He was 82 years old. The Russian aircraft designer died in a foreign land, far from his native Kiev, where he always dreamed of returning.