Igor Sikorsky accompanied his father to Germany and through conversations with his father, became interested in natural sciences. After returning home, Sikorsky began to experiment with model flying machines, and by age 12, he had made a small rubber band-powered helicopter. Sikorsky began studying at the Saint Petersburg Maritime Cadet Corps, in 1903, at the age of 14. In 1906, he determined that his future lay in engineering, so he resigned from the academy, despite his satisfactory standing, and left the Russian Empire to study in Paris. He returned to the Russian Empire in 1907, enrolling at the Mechanical College of the
Sikorsky S-7 The S-7 was entered in the international military competition at Saint Petersburg in August 1912. During a take-off attempt from a furrowed field the landing gear was severely damaged and the S-7 was unable to finish the completion. In 1913 the aircraft was repaired and served as a trainer. In 1914 Bulgaria purchased the S-7 and used it in operations during World War I. Sikorsky S-7 The Sikorsky S-7 was a Russian single engine experimental prototype aircraft built by the Russian Baltic Railroad Car Works shortly after Igor Sikorsky became chief engineer of the aircraft manufacturing division. The S-7 was