May 25, 1889 in the family of a professor at Kiev University, doctor of medicine Ivan Alekseevich Sikorsky the youngest son was born Igor. The professor, who was known as a very original person, decided in by all means raise a son … a genius! Compiled detailed plan is a boy development program. Similar programs to help focus and overcome difficulties step by step, Sikorsky Sr. composed for himself.
The son learned to read very early and read enthusiastically. There were no useless (from the father’s point of view) books in his library, only cognitive, but from adventure ones such that in in an entertaining manner they tell about different countries and peoples, for example Louis Bussenard’s novels. The boy reread some books, but one captured him so much that she became a desktop for life, – “Robur the Conqueror”, a novel by Jules Verne about a brilliant engineer, who dreamed of taking over the world with an aircraft is harder air, the prototype of a helicopter or gyroplane.
A photo from open sources
When Igor was a little older, his mother, Maria Stefanovna, showed him album of reproductions of late works by Leonardo da Vinci, a fan which was. The last pages of the album were reproduced drawing of a strange rotorcraft – helicopter, resembling the brainchild of Robur. And this is 16th century Italy!
That night, the shocked boy hardly fell asleep. And he dreamed that he is flying on a wonderful machine, sitting in a transparent spindle-shaped room. He didn’t know what it was called, yes and no one in the world knew this … Out a window similar to a ship a porthole, he saw below a distant land, then trees and approaching seashore. Igor will see this through many, many years.
In the meantime … He liked to launch a toy into the sky – planted on the vertical axis is a small propeller spun by rubber tourniquet. But even then he planned to create something based on it serious, big, capable of lifting people and cargo into the air, just like Robur the Conqueror.
An engineer is also a thing, after all!
In September 1900, 11-year-old Igor was sent to the 1st Kiev gymnasium, a prestigious, elite institution. They studied there, between by the way, in different years, Konstantin Paustovsky and Mikhail Bulgakov, People’s Commissar Anatoly Lunacharsky and artist Nikolai Ge. Initial education “educated as a genius”, of course, already received at home and came to the gymnasium fully prepared.
He studied well, but was not an excellent student due to restlessness and dispersion in everyday life (qualities inherent in great people!), constantly traveled on an excellent, rare memory, did not lag behind one subject.
Father wanted Igor to become a physician, but it soon became clear that the youngest son adores mathematics, physics, and the exact sciences in general. is he he painted well, but instead of portraits and still lifes, he got drawings of cars. And the father surrendered: well, let him be an engineer, this is also a matter eventually. After the gymnasium, he was identified as a naval cadet corps – the fleet needs engineers. But Igor suddenly stopped loving the sea, having passed only the general course of disciplines. True, in the team (team) learned to work. And by the age of 17 he became completely independent by man.
A photo from open sources
Kiev University could be for Igor alma mater. But… It was 1906, the students were buzzing, classes were failing. And father sent him to Paris – away from troublemakers – to a technical school Duvigne de Lanno, but Igor did not fit in there either. Serious learning aerodynamics, physics, engineering at the school was not conducted, lectures rather reminiscent of a discussion of science fiction novels, dreams of what will be the apparatus for conquering the air.
Six months later, Sikorsky Jr. returned home. Himself seriously sat down for textbooks and the next year he entered Kiev Polytechnical Institute. The year honestly unlearn, but immediately I felt that dry mathematics and formulas were not for him. He wants to fly. And most importantly – to create unprecedented devices.
And there was a voice to him!
Build a helicopter in those years did not work: low-power French motors could only lift a car without a pilot (by weight), and there was no swashplate yet – the helicopter could not maneuver in the air. Had to do the more familiar – by airplanes. Together with the young engineer Bylinkin in the shed he collected the BiS-1 airplane, who did not want to take off. Then “BiS-2” …
And here Providence intervened! The night before the first test in a dream Igor heard a voice advising him to change the tail. AND his brainchild soared into the air without problems, gaining a height of 180 meters. A a year later, the new S-5 car flew off at a half-kilometer height whole hour. Her designer won the first prize in the competition military airplanes! His next model was “S-6”, and showered military orders.
A photo from open sources
Soon the Baltic Wagon Factory invited Sikorsky to the position of chief engineer of his aviation department. And did not miscalculate: 24-year-old designer has already developed a multi-engine heavy aircraft with a crew of several people. Similar devices in 1912 year did not even exist in the drawings, either in Europe or in America. By initiative of the head of the department Mikhail Vladimirovich Shidlovsky on the factory decided to build exclusively Russian airplanes constructors.
For reference: the first domestic ones were also a merit of Shidlovsky cars “Russo-Balt”. Specifically designed specifically Russian roads, they passed the most severe tests, an example is Nagel’s rally through Russia, Western Europe and North Africa. Another contribution of Shidlovsky – the release of domestic aircraft engines. In 1919, Mikhail Vladimirovich was arrested along with son for trying to escape from the RSFSR to Finland and brutally murdered.
The reckoning for success and fame
Igor Sikorsky convinced the boss that the future of aviation is heavy devices with two or more motors. The plane was built in the spring of 1913 of the year. It was an aircraft pine biplane, it weighed 4095 kilograms, had a closed spacious cabin, where it is free accommodated a pilot, crew and several passengers. From the cabin you can had to go out onto the balcony in front of the fuselage (then speed allowed to do this).
A photo from open sources
On May 6, the car was lifted into the air by 200 meters, and on May 10 “Russian Knight” flew over St. Petersburg at an altitude of 400 meters. During the next flight, they specifically turned off with one side two of the four motors, but the device has not lost stability. August 2, Sikorsky, taking on board 8 people, stayed in the air 1 hour 54 minutes – it was an absolute world record! And again the Voice in a dream, advised to make changes to the tail. He is not disobeyed …
Rumors of an unprecedented airplane reached the emperor. Nicholas II wished to see the product and Sikorsky himself. The highest By order of June 25, the device was transferred to Krasnoe Selo, on the field for maneuvers near the rate. The emperor examined the car, asked the designer a few questions (according to eyewitnesses, very efficient) and boarded the side ladder. “Russian Knight” with considerable jealousy examined and visited in those days Russia French President Raymond Poincare.
In August 1913, Sikorsky began work on a new aircraft, more powerful and perfect. Changes in the design of the fuselage, pilot and separate passenger cabin allowed to double lifting capacity and maximum lifting height. New Air Giant – “Ilya Muromets” – was ready for December.
A photo from open sources
It had sleeping quarters, exhaust heating gas, electric lighting, bathroom and toilet – this is in 1913! The air giant Sikorsky flew from St. Petersburg to Kiev in total with in one landing for fuel intake.
During the First World War, “Muromets” will bomb distant German headquarters, making Russia also the birthplace of long-range multi-engine bombers. Of the more than 90 cars, the Germans will be able to bring down only four. “Muromtsev” was covered by heavy fighters “S-18” and light “S-20.” Sikorsky created an attack aircraft with six machine guns …
At the beginning of 1918, an officer of the Cheka came to Igor Ivanovich, educated man and his big fan.
– I saw your last name on the hit list …
Fees were instant! some cash, documents, a couple of linen … Then – random trains, military convoys, a walk. Murmansk, the headquarters of the British and the board of the warship, heading towards Newcastle. Then France, where his talent was not claimed, and finally – USA.
A photo from open sources
Five thousand dollars from Sergei Rachmaninov saved his company. AND new planes appeared. Flying boats that called flying yachts for the elegance of forms. Somehow going to one of them, Igor Ivanovich recalled his childhood dream: he recognized even that sea coast, down there …
Sikorsky helicopters saved tens of thousands of wounded in various wars. D. Eisenhower, N.S. Khrushchev and R. Clinton. The word “Sikorsky” has become synonymous with the highest quality, super brand. And a symbol of a successful Russian fate on foreign shores. If only she could be in a foreign land in all successful.
Anton Vasiliev Magazines and Adventures May 2014
Russia
