Igor Sikorsky On June 27, 1931, Sikorsky filed for a patent for another "direct lift aircraft", and was awarded patent No. 1,994,488 on March 19, 1935. His design plans eventually culminated in the first (tethered) flight of the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 on September 14, 1939, with the first free flight occurring eight months later on May 24, 1940. Sikorsky's success with the VS-300 led to the R-4, which became the world's first mass-produced helicopter, in 1942. Sikorsky's final VS-300 rotor configuration, comprising a single main rotor and a single antitorque tail rotor, has proven to be one of the most popular helicopter configurations,
Sikorsky S-3 Sikorsky S-3 The Sikorsky S-3 was an early Russian single seat biplane design by Igor Sikorsky. Work on the machine started in July 1910 and was completed in late November. The S-3 was a larger improved version of the S-2 with a more powerful Anzani three-cylinder engine. The main wings were manufactured in a more uniform manner with the ribs held to a closer tolerance and the fabric covering was of better quality. Other refinements included larger ailerons and faster responding flight control surfaces. The S-3 exhibited performance superior to the S-2 and Sikorsky made a dozen successful flights starting