| (1889
- 1972) |
| Inducted: |
1987 |
| Region: |
Northeast |
| Industry: |
Transportation
|
|
Igor I. Sikorsky was an ingenious inventor and skilled industrialist who contributed to the advancement of the aircraft industry. He developed the first practical single-rotor helicopter and pioneered a broad range of other aircraft. A native of Russia, he studied mechanical engineering at the Polytechnic Institute in Kiev and dropped out to build planes. In the United States he persuaded 12 other Russian immigrants to pledge $100 each to help him start the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corp. In 1929 he merged his company with United Aircraft while remaining in charge of operations. |
