Search
- Igor Sikorsky Piloting the VS-300 Helicopter, Hovering While a Wheel is Removed, circa 1942 - Igor Sikorsky built the VS-300, the first practical helicopter developed and flown in the United States, in 1939. Sikorsky demonstrated the aircraft's exceptional maneuverability by having an associate remove one of the helicopter's landing gear wheels while Sikorsky hovered the craft in place. Sikorsky donated the VS-300 to The Henry Ford in 1943.
- circa 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Igor Sikorsky Piloting the VS-300 Helicopter, Hovering While a Wheel is Removed, circa 1942
Igor Sikorsky built the VS-300, the first practical helicopter developed and flown in the United States, in 1939. Sikorsky demonstrated the aircraft's exceptional maneuverability by having an associate remove one of the helicopter's landing gear wheels while Sikorsky hovered the craft in place. Sikorsky donated the VS-300 to The Henry Ford in 1943.
- Igor Sikorsky in the VS-300 Helicopter before Presenting it to Henry Ford Museum, October 7, 1943 - Russian-American inventor Igor Sikorsky first experimented with helicopters in 1909, but he soon realized that the technology of that time was insufficient. He moved to fixed-wing craft and built the first four-engine airplane in 1913. Sikorsky returned to helicopters in 1939 with the successful VS-300. After further refinements, Sikorsky donated the helicopter to The Henry Ford in 1943.
- October 07, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Igor Sikorsky in the VS-300 Helicopter before Presenting it to Henry Ford Museum, October 7, 1943
Russian-American inventor Igor Sikorsky first experimented with helicopters in 1909, but he soon realized that the technology of that time was insufficient. He moved to fixed-wing craft and built the first four-engine airplane in 1913. Sikorsky returned to helicopters in 1939 with the successful VS-300. After further refinements, Sikorsky donated the helicopter to The Henry Ford in 1943.
- Henry Ford II Speaking during the Presentation of the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter to Henry Ford Museum, October 7, 1943 - Henry Ford II addressed the crowd during the presentation of Igor Sikorsky's VS-300 helicopter to Henry Ford Museum in October 1943. Only four years had passed since Sikorsky made his first flight in the aircraft. Ford anticipated the helicopter's enormous impact, noting "we won't fully realize what [Sikorsky's] research and invention will mean to the future of air transportation."
- October 07, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford II Speaking during the Presentation of the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter to Henry Ford Museum, October 7, 1943
Henry Ford II addressed the crowd during the presentation of Igor Sikorsky's VS-300 helicopter to Henry Ford Museum in October 1943. Only four years had passed since Sikorsky made his first flight in the aircraft. Ford anticipated the helicopter's enormous impact, noting "we won't fully realize what [Sikorsky's] research and invention will mean to the future of air transportation."
- Henry Ford II, Charles Lindbergh, Les Morris, Henry Ford and Igor Sikorsky at the VS-300 Helicopter Presentation, October 7, 1943 - Henry Ford and helicopter innovator Igor Sikorsky shared a mutual friend in Charles Lindbergh, the pilot celebrated for his 1927 solo transatlantic flight. When Sikorsky mentioned his admiration for Ford to Lindbergh, Lindbergh arranged an introduction. The meeting ultimately led to Sikorsky donating his VS-300 helicopter to The Henry Ford in 1943 at a ceremony attended by all three men.
- October 07, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford II, Charles Lindbergh, Les Morris, Henry Ford and Igor Sikorsky at the VS-300 Helicopter Presentation, October 7, 1943
Henry Ford and helicopter innovator Igor Sikorsky shared a mutual friend in Charles Lindbergh, the pilot celebrated for his 1927 solo transatlantic flight. When Sikorsky mentioned his admiration for Ford to Lindbergh, Lindbergh arranged an introduction. The meeting ultimately led to Sikorsky donating his VS-300 helicopter to The Henry Ford in 1943 at a ceremony attended by all three men.
- Igor Sikorsky Landing the VS-300 Helicopter at Henry Ford Museum before Presenting it to Henry Ford, October 7, 1943 - Igor Sikorsky donated his pioneering VS-300 helicopter to The Henry Ford in October 1943. During the presentation ceremony, Sikorsky and his test pilot demonstrated the helicopter's exceptional maneuverability. They slipped the aircraft's nose probe through a small ring, set one of its wheels on a handkerchief spread on the ground, and carried souvenir "air mail" letters in its front basket.
- October 07, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Igor Sikorsky Landing the VS-300 Helicopter at Henry Ford Museum before Presenting it to Henry Ford, October 7, 1943
Igor Sikorsky donated his pioneering VS-300 helicopter to The Henry Ford in October 1943. During the presentation ceremony, Sikorsky and his test pilot demonstrated the helicopter's exceptional maneuverability. They slipped the aircraft's nose probe through a small ring, set one of its wheels on a handkerchief spread on the ground, and carried souvenir "air mail" letters in its front basket.
- Charles Sorensen (left) and Igor Sikorsky (2nd from right) at the Presentation of the VS-300 Helicopter to Henry Ford Museum, October 7, 1943 - Igor Sikorsky (second from right) donated his pioneering VS-300 helicopter, the first successful helicopter flown in the Western Hemisphere, to Henry Ford Museum in October 1943. With World War II underway, Ford Motor Company was building B-24 bomber airplanes at the time. Charles Sorensen (left), Ford's production chief, managed their assembly at the company's Willow Run plant.
- October 07, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Charles Sorensen (left) and Igor Sikorsky (2nd from right) at the Presentation of the VS-300 Helicopter to Henry Ford Museum, October 7, 1943
Igor Sikorsky (second from right) donated his pioneering VS-300 helicopter, the first successful helicopter flown in the Western Hemisphere, to Henry Ford Museum in October 1943. With World War II underway, Ford Motor Company was building B-24 bomber airplanes at the time. Charles Sorensen (left), Ford's production chief, managed their assembly at the company's Willow Run plant.
- 1939 Sikorsky VS-300A Helicopter - Igor Sikorsky, as a young man in Russia, tried unsuccessfully to build a helicopter in 1909. He went on to build fixed-wing aircraft but returned to helicopters in 1938. Within three years, he had developed the first practical helicopter in the United States: the VS-300A.
- 1939
- Collections - Artifact
1939 Sikorsky VS-300A Helicopter
Igor Sikorsky, as a young man in Russia, tried unsuccessfully to build a helicopter in 1909. He went on to build fixed-wing aircraft but returned to helicopters in 1938. Within three years, he had developed the first practical helicopter in the United States: the VS-300A.
- Igor Sikorsky Landing the VS-300 Helicopter before Presenting it to Henry Ford Museum, October 7, 1943 - Igor Sikorsky donated his pioneering VS-300 helicopter to The Henry Ford in October 1943. During the presentation ceremony, Sikorsky and his test pilot demonstrated the helicopter's exceptional maneuverability. They slipped the aircraft's nose probe through a small ring, set one of its wheels on a handkerchief spread on the ground, and carried souvenir "air mail" letters in its front basket.
- October 07, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Igor Sikorsky Landing the VS-300 Helicopter before Presenting it to Henry Ford Museum, October 7, 1943
Igor Sikorsky donated his pioneering VS-300 helicopter to The Henry Ford in October 1943. During the presentation ceremony, Sikorsky and his test pilot demonstrated the helicopter's exceptional maneuverability. They slipped the aircraft's nose probe through a small ring, set one of its wheels on a handkerchief spread on the ground, and carried souvenir "air mail" letters in its front basket.
- The VS-300 Helicopter Presented by Igor Sikorsky to Henry Ford Museum, October 7, 1943 - Henry Ford never intended his Edison Institute -- today's The Henry Ford -- only to be about the past. Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village would inspire the institute's students and visitors to create the future. Ford collected modern inventions alongside historic items. He acquired the VS-300 helicopter from inventor Igor Sikorsky in 1943 -- only four years after the aircraft's introduction.
- October 07, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
The VS-300 Helicopter Presented by Igor Sikorsky to Henry Ford Museum, October 7, 1943
Henry Ford never intended his Edison Institute -- today's The Henry Ford -- only to be about the past. Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village would inspire the institute's students and visitors to create the future. Ford collected modern inventions alongside historic items. He acquired the VS-300 helicopter from inventor Igor Sikorsky in 1943 -- only four years after the aircraft's introduction.
- Igor Sikorsky Landing the VS-300 Helicopter before Presenting it to Henry Ford Museum, October 7, 1943 - Igor Sikorsky donated his pioneering VS-300 helicopter to The Henry Ford in October 1943. During the presentation ceremony, Sikorsky and his test pilot demonstrated the helicopter's exceptional maneuverability. They slipped the aircraft's nose probe through a small ring, set one of its wheels on a handkerchief spread on the ground, and carried souvenir "air mail" letters in its front basket.
- October 07, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Igor Sikorsky Landing the VS-300 Helicopter before Presenting it to Henry Ford Museum, October 7, 1943
Igor Sikorsky donated his pioneering VS-300 helicopter to The Henry Ford in October 1943. During the presentation ceremony, Sikorsky and his test pilot demonstrated the helicopter's exceptional maneuverability. They slipped the aircraft's nose probe through a small ring, set one of its wheels on a handkerchief spread on the ground, and carried souvenir "air mail" letters in its front basket.