USUBC COLLECTION OF
HISTORIC IHOR SIKORSKY PHOTOGRAPHS

Life and career of Ihor Sikorsky, a renowned Ukrainian-American
scientist, engineer, and industrialist.
Ihor I. Sikorsky, is one of the most talented and versatile aeronautical pioneers in history. Sikorsky's aviation career spanned over 60 years and was highlighted by three major achievements: the creation of the world's first four-engine airliner; the record-breaking Clipper Ships, with which Pan American Airways explored transpacific and transatlantic airline service; and the development of the helicopter, which many historians consider to be his crowning achievement.
Ihor Sikorsky (born on May 25, 1889 in Kyiv, Ukraine [then Russian Empire] – died on October 26, 1972 in Easton, Connecticut) was an aviation pioneer in Russian Empire, and is the most renowned helicopter designer in the United States.
Ihor Sikorsky first became interested in rotary-wing aircraft when he produced two unsuccessful experimental helicopters in 1909. He had to “recognize that with the existing state of the art, engines, materials, and—most of all—the shortage of money and lack of experience…[he] would not be able to produce a successful helicopter at that time.” Nevertheless, his visionary efforts are the foundation of the technology that is basic to modern helicopters worldwide.
In 1909-1913, Sikorsky successfully constructed several aircrafts, including four-engine heavy bomber Ilya Muromets, before the Bolshevik usurpation of power in Russia. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1919, he founded the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in 1923, and designed the first workable American helicopter, Vought-Sikorsky VS-300. Sikorsky R-4 became the world’s first mass-produced helicopter in 1942.
Sikorsky designed cargo helicopters gave the U.S. Army one of its earliest capabilities to exploit air mobility with utility and cargo helicopters. His H-19 and H-34 models saw extensive use by the Army in a variety of missions and the development and use of the CH-37 medium cargo and CH-54 heave lift helicopters are further tribute to his engineering genius.
Sikorsky helicopters are utilized in all imaginable ways in many civilian and military domains, they serve as attack aircraft that support ground troops, and transports for soldiers, wildland firefighters, and disaster-relief workers. In 2018 alone, Sikorsky helicopters saved 1,636 lives.
In October 2011, the name of Ihor Sikorsky was given to the former Tankova Street in Kyiv, Ukraine, where the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine is located. National Technical University of Ukraine “Ihor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” and Zhulyany Airport “Kyiv” are also named after the world known helicopter designer.

1910-1919
1910	1910 - Kyiv, Ukraine Ihor Sikorsky with H-2 (second helicopter prototype) in the backyard of the Sikorsky Family house at 15Б Yaroslaviv Val Street, Kyiv, Ukraine. A copy of the photograph is posted in the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine building at 4 Aviaconstructor Ihor Sikorsky Street, Kyiv, Ukraine. Provided by the Sikorsky Family and Robert Homans. [1910. AA.] 1910. AA. Kyiv, Ukraine. Ihor Sikorsky with H-2 (second helicopter prototype) in the backyard of the Sikorsky Family house at 15Б Yaroslaviv Val Street, Kyiv, Ukraine. A copy of the photograph is posted in the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine building at 4 Aviaconstructor Ihor Sikorsky Street, Kyiv, Ukraine. Provided by the Sikorsky Family and Robert Homans.
1914	1914, February 27 Photograph of the aviator Sikorsky (Front) [1914, February 27. AA.] 1914, February 27. AA. Photograph of the aviator Sikorsky (Front) 1914, February 27 Photograph of the aviator Sikorsky (Back) [1914, February 27. AB.] 1914, February 27. AB. Photograph of the aviator Sikorsky (Back)
1920-1929
1929	1929 SIKORSKY AMPHIBION "S-39" [1929. AA.] 1929. AA. SIKORSKY AMPHIBION "S-39" 1929 SIKORSKY AMPHIBION "S-39" [1929. AB.] 1929. AB. SIKORSKY AMPHIBION "S-39"
1929	1929 Sikorsky S-39 amphibian NC54V [1929. BA.] 1929. BA. Sikorsky S-39 amphibian NC54V
1930-1939
1931	1931 Pan American Sikorsky S-40 Amphibious Sesquiplane Flying Boat Aircraft (Front) [1931. AA.] 1931. AA. Pan American Sikorsky S-40 Amphibious Sesquiplane Flying Boat Aircraft (Front) 1931 Pan American Sikorsky S-40 Amphibious Sesquiplane Flying Boat Aircraft (Back) [1931. AB.] 1931. AB. Pan American Sikorsky S-40 Amphibious Sesquiplane Flying Boat Aircraft (Back)
1934	1934, February 14 - Stratford, Connecticut LARGEST PLANE DESIGNED FOR TRANS-OCEANIC FLIGHTS. Here is America's largest plane and first air transport designed for passenger and mail flights over the ocean. Sikorsky Aviation Company Plant in Stratford, Conn. The huge flighing boat, known as the S-42, has room for 32 passengers, a crew of five, and a half-ton of mail on a 2,500-mile flight. ACME Photo (Front) [1934, February 14. AA.] 1934, February 14. AA. Stratford, Connecticut. LARGEST PLANE DESIGNED FOR TRANS-OCEANIC FLIGHTS. Here is America's largest plane and first air transport designed for passenger and mail flights over the ocean. Sikorsky Aviation Company Plant in Stratford, Conn. The huge flighing boat, known as the S-42, has room for 32 passengers, a crew of five, and a half-ton of mail on a 2,500-mile flight. ACME Photo (Front) 1934, February 14 - Stratford, Connecticut LARGEST PLANE DESIGNED FOR TRANS-OCEANIC FLIGHTS. ACME Photo (Back) [1934, February 14. AB.] 1934, February 14. AB. Stratford, Connecticut. LARGEST PLANE DESIGNED FOR TRANS-OCEANIC FLIGHTS. ACME Photo (Back)
1934	1934, July 3 - Bridgeport, Connecticut LINDBERGH PILOTS GIANT S-42 IN TEST. Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh (right), designer of the giant 18-ton transport plane built for the Pan American Airways primarily for Trans-Atlantic service, the S-42, shown in the plane before its test flight at Bridgeport, Conn., July 3. AP Photo (Front) [1934, July 3. BA.] 1934, July 3. BA. Bridgeport, Connecticut. LINDBERGH PILOTS GIANT S-42 IN TEST. Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh (right), designer of the giant 18-ton transport plane built for the Pan American Airways primarily for Trans-Atlantic service, the S-42, shown in the plane before its test flight at Bridgeport, Conn., July 3. AP Photo (Front) 1934, July 3 - Bridgeport, Connecticut LINDBERGH PILOTS GIANT S-42 IN TEST. Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh (right), designer of the giant 18-ton transport plane built for the Pan American Airways primarily for Trans-Atlantic service, the S-42, shown in the plane before its test flight at Bridgeport, Conn., July 3. Colonel Lindbergh was one of four aeronautical celebrities, who took a turn at the controls of the S-42. The plane made a speed of 190 miles an hour using only 85 percent of the boat's power. AP Photo (Back) [1934, July 3. BB.] 1934, July 3. BB. Bridgeport, Connecticut. LINDBERGH PILOTS GIANT S-42 IN TEST. Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh (right), designer of the giant 18-ton transport plane built for the Pan American Airways primarily for Trans-Atlantic service, the S-42, shown in the plane before its test flight at Bridgeport, Conn., July 3. Colonel Lindbergh was one of four aeronautical celebrities, who took a turn at the controls of the S-42. The plane made a speed of 190 miles an hour using only 85 percent of the boat's power. AP Photo (Back)
1938	1938, March 2 - Schenectady, New York Igor Sikorsky, chief designing engineer for Sikorsky Aircraft (Front) [1938, March 2. AA.] 1938, March 2. AA. Schenectady, New York. Igor Sikorsky, chief designing engineer for Sikorsky Aircraft (Front) 1938, March 2 - Schenectady, New York Igor Sikorsky, chief designing engineer for Sikorsky Aircraft, who will speak Thursday night on "Science and the Future of Aviation" at the Twelfth Steinmetz Memorial Lecture at Mont Pleasant high school, Schenectady, has designed and built a number of large airships for the United States government, latest of which is the "Flying Dreadnaught" XPBS-1, recently delivered to the U.S. Navy (Back) [1938, March 2. AB.] 1938, March 2. AB. Schenectady, New York. Igor Sikorsky, chief designing engineer for Sikorsky Aircraft, who will speak Thursday night on "Science and the Future of Aviation" at the Twelfth Steinmetz Memorial Lecture at Mont Pleasant high school, Schenectady, has designed and built a number of large airships for the United States government, latest of which is the "Flying Dreadnaught" XPBS-1, recently delivered to the U.S. Navy (Back)
1938	1938 - THE STORY OF THE WINGED-S An Autobiography by Ihor I. Sikorsky. Cover. Published: Dodd, Mead & Company, New York. 1938 [1938. BA.] 1938. BA. THE STORY OF THE WINGED-S. An Autobiography by Ihor I. Sikorsky. Cover. Published: Dodd, Mead & Company, New York. 1938 1938 - THE STORY OF THE WINGED-S An Autobiography by Ihor I. Sikorsky. First Pages. Published: Dodd, Mead & Company, New York. 1938 [1938. BA.] 1938. BA. THE STORY OF THE WINGED-S. An Autobiography by Ihor I. Sikorsky. First Pages. Published: Dodd, Mead & Company, New York. 1938
1939	1939, March 20 - Washington, District of Columbia AT NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE FLYING CONFERENCE. ACME Photo (Front) [1939, March 20. AA.] 1939, March 20. AA. Washington, District of Columbia. AT NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE FLYING CONFERENCE. ACME Photo (Front) 1939, March 20 - Washington, District of Columbia AT NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE FLYING CONFERENCE. William R. Enyart, secretary of the National Aeronautic Association; Clark Henderson, president of the Intercollegiate Flying Club; Igor Sikorsky, noted airplane designer of Bridgeport, Conn., and A. R. Stevenson, president of the Private Fliers Association, (left to right) at the opening of the fifth annual conference of the National Intercollegiate Flying Club. The conference is being attended by more than 200 college and sports fliers from all parts of the nation. Prominent fliers will give talks on private flying in relation to Government, airlines, industry and national defense. ACME Photo (Back) [1939, March 20. AB.] 1939, March 20. AB. Washington, District of Columbia. AT NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE FLYING CONFERENCE. William R. Enyart, secretary of the National Aeronautic Association; Clark Henderson, president of the Intercollegiate Flying Club; Igor Sikorsky, noted airplane designer of Bridgeport, Conn., and A. R. Stevenson, president of the Private Fliers Association, (left to right) at the opening of the fifth annual conference of the National Intercollegiate Flying Club. The conference is being attended by more than 200 college and sports fliers from all parts of the nation. Prominent fliers will give talks on private flying in relation to Government, airlines, industry and national defense. ACME Photo (Back)
1939	1939, August 5 - Port-Washington, New York NEW WAY TO SURPRISE WIFE. Mr, Mills, sportsman and polo player, of Old Westbury, L.I., shown on the right as he chatted with Igor Sikorsky, noted plane designer, was one of the 20 passengers who left from here today for Europe aboard the Pan-American Airways American Clipper. Wide World Photo (Front) [1939, August 5. BA.] 1939, August 5. BA. Port-Washington, New York. NEW WAY TO SURPRISE WIFE. Mr, Mills, sportsman and polo player, of Old Westbury, L.I., shown on the right as he chatted with Igor Sikorsky, noted plane designer, was one of the 20 passengers who left from here today for Europe aboard the Pan-American Airways American Clipper. Wide World Photo (Front) 1939, August 5 - Port-Washington, New York NEW WAY TO SURPRISE WIFE. When Mrs. James-Paul Mills, who waved good-bye to her husband from the decks of the Normandie when the liner sailed from New York on Wednesday, August 2nd, walks down the gangplank onto English soil, she is going to have a surprise. her husband will greet her. Mr, Mills, sportsman and polo player, of Old Westbury, L.I., shown on the right as he chatted with Igor Sikorsky, noted plane designer, was one of the 20 passengers who left from here today for Europe aboard the Pan-American Airways American Clipper. "My wife expected that I would sail on a later boat. She'll be surprised to see me," he said. Wide World Photo (Back) [1939, August 5. BB.] 1939, August 5. BB. Port-Washington, New York. NEW WAY TO SURPRISE WIFE. When Mrs. James-Paul Mills, who waved good-bye to her husband from the decks of the Normandie when the liner sailed from New York on Wednesday, August 2nd, walks down the gangplank onto English soil, she is going to have a surprise. her husband will greet her. Mr, Mills, sportsman and polo player, of Old Westbury, L.I., shown on the right as he chatted with Igor Sikorsky, noted plane designer, was one of the 20 passengers who left from here today for Europe aboard the Pan-American Airways American Clipper. "My wife expected that I would sail on a later boat. She'll be surprised to see me," he said. Wide World Photo (Back)
1939	1939, September 14 - Stratford, Connecticut Ihor Sikorsky in the cockpit of the VS-300, preparing for the first helicopter flight in the world's history. [1939, September 14. CA.] 1939, September 14. CA. Stratford, Connecticut. Ihor Sikorsky in the cockpit of the VS-300, preparing for the first helicopter flight in the world's history.
1939	1939 - Stratford, Connecticut Ihor Sikorsky flies Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter (Front) [1939. CA.] 1939. CA. Stratford, Connecticut. Ihor Sikorsky flies Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter (Front) 1939 - Stratford, Connecticut Ihor Sikorsky flies Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter (Back) [1939. CB.] 1939. CB. Stratford, Connecticut. Ihor Sikorsky flies Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter (Back)
1939	1939, September 14 - Stratford, Connecticut The first flight of the VS-300, the world’s first practical helicopter, designed by Igor Sikorsky and built by the Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Division of the United Aircraft Corporation. This was the first helicopter to incorporate a single main rotor and tail rotor design. Photo by Sikorsky Aircraft. Division of the United Aircraft Corporation (Back) [1939, September 14. DA.] 1939, September 14. DA. Stratford, Connecticut. The first flight of the VS-300, the world’s first practical helicopter, designed by Igor Sikorsky and built by the Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Division of the United Aircraft Corporation. This was the first helicopter to incorporate a single main rotor and tail rotor design. Photo by Sikorsky Aircraft. Division of the United Aircraft Corporation (Back) 1939, September 14 - Stratford, Connecticut Igor Sikorsky takes the Western Hemisphere's first successful helicopter into the air. Photo by Sikorsky Aircraft. Division of the United Aircraft Corporation (Back) [1939, September 14. DB.] 1939, September 14. DB. Stratford, Connecticut. Igor Sikorsky takes the Western Hemisphere's first successful helicopter into the air. Photo by Sikorsky Aircraft. Division of the United Aircraft Corporation (Back)
1940-1949
1940	1940 - Vought-Sikorsky XS02U-1 U.S Navy Scout Observation Seaplane (Front) [1940. AA.] 1940. AA. Vought-Sikorsky XS02U-1 U.S. Navy Scout Observation Seaplane (Front) 1940 - Vought-Sikorsky XS02U-1 U.S Navy Scout Observation Seaplane (Back) [1940. AB.] 1940. AB. Vought-Sikorsky XS02U-1 U.S. Navy Scout Observation Seaplane (Back)
1943	1943, May 24 - New York, New York TEN AWARDED COPERNICAN CITATIONS. Here, at the meeting, are (left to right): Igor Sikorsky, noted airplane designer, who received a citation; Capt. Frederick Hellenweg, Director of the U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C.; Col. Wladislaw Onaciewicz, Military Attache at the Polish Embassy, Washington, D.C.; and Jan Ciechanowski, Polish Ambassador to the United States. ACMA Photo (Front) [1943, May 24. AA.] 1943, May 24. AA. New York, New York. TEN AWARDED COPERNICAN CITATIONS. Here, at the meeting, are (left to right): Igor Sikorsky, noted airplane designer, who received a citation; Capt. Frederick Hellenweg, Director of the U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C.; Col. Wladislaw Onaciewicz, Military Attache at the Polish Embassy, Washington, D.C.; and Jan Ciechanowski, Polish Ambassador to the United States. ACMA Photo (Front) 1943, May 24 - New York, New York TEN AWARDED COPERNICAN CITATIONS. Nine American scientists and one Chinese scholar were awarded citations for eminence in widely varied fields of achievement in pure and applied science tonight climaxing a day of nationwide commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the Polish astronomer, Nicholas Copernicus, who died May 24, 1543. The awards were made at a meeting in Carnegie Hall sponsored jointly by the Kosciuszko Foundation and Copernican Quadricentennaial National Committee. Here, at the meeting, are (left to right): Igor Sikorsky, noted airplane designer, who received a citation; Capt. Frederick Hellenweg, Director of the U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C.; Col. Wladislaw Onaciewicz, Military Attache at the Polish Embassy, Washington, D.C.; and Jan Ciechanowski, Polish Ambassador to the United States. ACMA Photo (Back) [1943, May 24. AB.] 1943, May 24. AB. New York, New York. TEN AWARDED COPERNICAN CITATIONS. Nine American scientists and one Chinese scholar were awarded citations for eminence in widely varied fields of achievement in pure and applied science tonight climaxing a day of nationwide commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the Polish astronomer, Nicholas Copernicus, who died May 24, 1543. The awards were made at a meeting in Carnegie Hall sponsored jointly by the Kosciuszko Foundation and Copernican Quadricentennaial National Committee. Here, at the meeting, are (left to right): Igor Sikorsky, noted airplane designer, who received a citation; Capt. Frederick Hellenweg, Director of the U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C.; Col. Wladislaw Onaciewicz, Military Attache at the Polish Embassy, Washington, D.C.; and Jan Ciechanowski, Polish Ambassador to the United States. ACMA Photo (Back)
1943	1943, June 23 - LIFE Magazine Front Cover SIKORSKY'S HELICOPTER [1943, June 23. BA.] 1943, June 23. BA. LIFE Magazine Front Cover. SIKORSKY'S HELICOPTER 1943, June 23 - LIFE Magazine Article SIKORSKY'S HELICOPTER [1943, June 23. BB.] 1943, June 23. BB. LIFE Magazine Article. SIKORSKY'S HELICOPTER
1945	1945 Igor Sikorsky in the cockpit of a Sikorsky S-48 (R-5) helicopter. [1945. AA.] 1945. AA. Igor Sikorsky in the cockpit of a Sikorsky S-48 (R-5) helicopter.
1947	1947, January 1 - SKY PIONEER The Story of Ihor ISikorsky. Book by Robert M. Barlett. Cover. Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons. New York [1947, January 1. AA.] 1947, January 1. AA. SKY PIONEER. The Story of Ihor I. Sikorsky. Book by Robert M. Barlett. Cover. Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons. New York 1947, January 1 - SKY PIONEER The Story of Ihor ISikorsky. Book by Robert M. Barlett. Page 1. Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons. New York [1947, January 1. AB.] 1947, January 1. AB. SKY PIONEER. The Story of Ihor I. Sikorsky. Book by Robert M. Barlett. Page 1. Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons. New York
1950-1959
1953	1953, November 16 Time Magazine Cover Page with Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky image. [1953, November 16. AA.] 1953, November 16. AA. Time Magazine Cover Page with Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky image.
1957	1957, May 7 - Bridgeport, Connecticut SIKORSKY TO RETIRE. Igor I. Sikorsky, 67, of Easton, Conn., aircraft designer best known for his development of the helicopter, will retire this month as engineering manager of the Sikorsky Aircraft division which he founded here. The division is a branch of the United Aircraft corporation. AP Wirephoto (Front) [1957, May 7. AA.] 1957, May 7. AA. Bridgeport, Connecticut. SIKORSKY TO RETIRE. Igor I. Sikorsky, 67, of Easton, Conn., aircraft designer best known for his development of the helicopter, will retire this month as engineering manager of the Sikorsky Aircraft division which he founded here. The division is a branch of the United Aircraft corporation. AP Wirephoto (Front) 1957, May 7 - Bridgeport, Connecticut SIKORSKY TO RETIRE. Igor I. Sikorsky, 67, world famed designer of aircraft, including the amazing helicopter, who is retiring from the Sikorsky Aircraft division he founded. AP Wirephoto (Back) [1957, May 7. AB.] 1957, May 7. AB. Bridgeport, Connecticut. SIKORSKY TO RETIRE. Igor I. Sikorsky, 67, world famed designer of aircraft, including the amazing helicopter, who is retiring from the Sikorsky Aircraft division he founded. AP Wirephoto (Back)
1960-1969
1961	1961 Portrait with a model [1961. Por] 1961. Portrait with a model 1961 Portrait at a testing facility [1961. Por] 1961. Portrait at a testing facility
1963	1963 Collage with technical drawings [1963. Col] 1963. Collage with technical drawings
1964	1964, September 10 The twenty-fifth birthday of the western hemisphere's first successful helicopter - the Sikorsky VS-300 - will be observed Sept. 14, 1964 (Front) [1964, September 10. AA.] 1964, September 10. AA. The twenty-fifth birthday of the western hemisphere's first successful helicopter - the Sikorsky VS-300 - will be observed Sept. 14, 1964 (Front) 1964, September 10 The twenty-fifth birthday of the western hemisphere's first successful helicopter - the Sikorsky VS-300 - will be observed Sept. 14, 1964. Representing a quarter century of helicopter progress are, upper left, aeronautical pioneer Igor I. Skorsky, known as Mr. Helicopter; lower left, first flight of the VS-300, which led to today's helicopter industry, with Mr. Sikorsky at the controls; and right, over Washington, D.C., a Sikorsky twin-turbine VH-3A of the Executive Flight Detachment which carries the President and other high government officials (Back) [1964, September 10. AB.] 1964, September 10. AB. The twenty-fifth birthday of the western hemisphere's first successful helicopter - the Sikorsky VS-300 - will be observed Sept. 14, 1964. Representing a quarter century of helicopter progress are, upper left, aeronautical pioneer Igor I. Skorsky, known as Mr. Helicopter; lower left, first flight of the VS-300, which led to today's helicopter industry, with Mr. Sikorsky at the controls; and right, over Washington, D.C., a Sikorsky twin-turbine VH-3A of the Executive Flight Detachment which carries the President and other high government officials (Back)
1965	1965 Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company [1965. Sik] 1965. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company
1970-1979
1974	1974, June 6 - Fort Rucker, Alabama IGOR SIKORSKYHall of Fame Photograph (Front) [1974, June 6. AA.] 1974, June 6. AA. Fort Rucker, Alabama. IGOR SIKORSKY. Hall of Fame Photograph (Front) 1974, June 6 - Fort Rucker, Alabama IGOR SIKORSKYHall of Fame Photograph (Back) [1974, June 6. AB.] 1974, June 6. AB. Fort Rucker, Alabama. IGOR SIKORSKY. Hall of Fame Photograph (Back)
1990-1999
1999	1999, July 1 'HEELICOPTER' PIONEERING WITH IHOR SIKORSKY. Book by William E. Hunt, based on a personal account. Publisher: Airlife Pub Ltd. [1999, July 1. AA.] 1999, July 1. AA. 'HEELICOPTER' PIONEERING WITH IHOR SIKORSKY. Book by William E. Hunt, based on a personal account. Publisher: Airlife Pub Ltd.
2000-2009
2008	2008 - France Front cover of the Aviation Review Icarus Magazine. [2008. AA.] 2008. AA. France. Front cover of the Aviation Review Icarus Magazine. 2008 - France Contents of the Aviation Review Icarus Magazine with the article "Time of the Pioneers" by Ihor Sikorsky's son, Serge Sikorsky. [2008. AB.] 2008. AB. France. Contents of the Aviation Review Icarus Magazine with the article "Time of the Pioneers" by Ihor Sikorsky's son, Serge Sikorsky.