One of aviation's greatest designers, Russian-born Igor Sikorsky began designing helicopters in 1910. After the Russian Revolution, he emigrated to the USA where he founded the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corporation in 1923 (later merged to form the United Aircraft Corporation).

From 1925 to 1940, he created a series of increasingly successful aircraft which America numerous world records for speed, range and payload.

The famed Sikorsky flying 'Clippers' helped pioneer transatlantic and transpacific commercial passenger services. By 1940, Igor Sikorsky's successful VS-300 had become the model for all modern practical single-rotor helicopters. He also designed and built the first military helicopter, XR-4, which he delivered to Colonel Franklin Gregory of the US Army.

Igor Sikorsky is considered to be the 'father' of helicopters because he invented the first successful single-rotor helicopter upon which even today's helicopters are based.

During his life, Sikorsky was awarded the National Medal of Science, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, the U.S. Air Force Academy's Thomas D. White National Defense Award and the Royal Aeronautical Society of England's Silver Medal. As well as these, he has also been enshrined at both the International Aerospace and the Aviation Halls of Fame.

Sikorsky was heard to say, "the work of the individual still remains the spark, which moves mankind ahead." This was without doubt, proved throughout his achievements in life. Even after his retirement, at the age of 68, Sikorsky worked as an engineering consultant and was even at his desk the day before he died from a heart attack, in 1972, at the age of 83.