Igor Sikorsky (1889-1972) founded company as Sikorsky
Aero Engineering
S-38
Corporation March 5,1923. As young
Russian built first helicopter in 1909, but no flight achieved.
In 1912 was appointed to technical post with Russo-Baltic
Wagon Works. Pioneered very large four-engined
S-40
aircraft
and continued development during First World War. After
forming U.S. company built large twin-engined S-29A.
Numerous experimental and production airplanes in late
1920s and 1930s, and in October 1928 Sikorsky
S-42 "Clipper"
Aviation
Corporation founded, becoming in 1929 a division of United
Technologies Corporation (so remaining). Name Sikorsky truly reestablished by flying-boats and amphibians. S-38
twin-engined amphibian preceded S-40 four-engined
flying-boat of 1931.
Sikorsky VS-300
S-42 had full-length hull, set new
records, and pioneered trans-ocean commercial flying.
Sikorsky still lured by helicopter idea, and on September
14,1939 flew his VS-300 in controlled flight. VS-300
much modified
Sikorsky R-4
in development. XR-4 of 1942 was first
practical U.S. military helicopter. Later types immensely
varied, including: S-51 (first flown August 1943 as prototype for military tandem two-seat R-5, later
Sikorsky S-51 / H-5 / HO3S
also going into
production in four-seat S-51 commercial form), two-seat
S-52 (first flown 1947 and developed into three/four-seat
model), S-55 (first flown November 1949 and with the
engine in the fuselage
Sikorsky S-55 "Chickasaw" / HO4S / HRS
nose to keep the main cabin clear
for 12 troops or passengers) and S-58 (first flown March
1954), all establishing world fame for Sikorsky helicopters,
while S-61 (first flown March
1959) formed the basis for
many of the western world's most important amphibious
anti-submarine helicopters in the SH-3 Sea King series.
Currently specializes in intermediate/heavy helicopters,
although jointly developing the RAH-66
Sikorsky S-61 / SH-3 "Sea King"
Comanche tandem
two-seat multirole battlefield helicopter with Boeing (first
flown January 1996) for U.S. Army service from the year
2006. Current range includes S-70/H-60 Black Hawk (first
flown October 1974) as
Sikorsky S-65
military assault helicopter for 11-
14 equipped troops, with variants for electronic warfare,
combat rescue, special operation and more, with optional
armament via external stores support system stub-wings;
SH-60 Seahawk naval
Sikorsky S-70
antisubmarine and antiship derivative
of Black Hawk, also capable of transport, medevac,
communications, search and rescue, and more (first flown
December 1979) and with its own variants including Jayhawk
medium-range recovery
Sikorsky S-76
multi-mission helicopter for
the U.S. Coast Guard; S-76 civil and military 14-seat twinturboshaft
helicopter (first flown March 1977); H-76 Eagle
armed multirole and naval variant of S-76; triple-turboshaft
CH-53E Super Stallion
Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 "Comanche"
heavy transport and amphibious
assault helicopter (first flown March 1974), with MH-53E
Sea Dragon U.S. Navy airborne mine-countermeasures
variant, and S-80 export model; and latest S-92 Helibus
of 1998 first appearance as a civil/military medium twinturboshaft
helicopter for up to 22 passengers.
