Timeline of the Sikorsky Aircraft Company
Igor Sikorsky’s journey took him from helicopter experiments in the backyard of his home in Kiev, Ukraine to building multi-engine aircraft as a leading aviation authority in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where he was Chief Engineer of the Russian-Baltic Railroad Car Company’s Aviation Department. He then started his career over in the United States, building his first American aircraft on a chicken farm in Long Island, New York before pioneering amphibious aircraft and the world’s first practical helicopter in Connecticut. This timeline describes the events and locations that were key to Igor Sikorsky’s establishment of the Sikorsky Aircraft Company, starting from when he arrived in the United States in 1919.
Arrival in the United States
With dreams to start a new life designing aircraft in the United States, Igor Sikorsky arrived in New York City from Le Havre, France aboard the French liner, Lorraine.
The photograph above is of Igor Sikorsky in lower Manhattan near Bowling Green, 1919.
Hannevig-Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.,
Wantagh, New York
For a short 4-month period after he arrived in the United States, Igor Sikorsky worked as the general manager and chief engineer of Hannevig-Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation before the company was dissolved. During this period, he completed drawings for the Sikorsky S-28 aircraft, which was never constructed.
McCook Field,
Dayton, Ohio
Igor Sikorsky received a contract at McCook Field (now Wright Patterson Air Force Base) to design two types of multi-seat aircraft with three 700hp engines. Igor completed the designs in six weeks and, with no further contract to build the aircraft, he returned to New York City.
Utgoff Farm,
Roosevelt, New York
Igor Sikorsky formed the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corp. with a group of Russian immigrants, many of whom were former military officers, who he met while teaching mathematics and astronomy classes in New York City. Their first aircraft factory was on the farm of Igor's friend V. V. Utgoff and consisted of a wooden shed and a chicken coop. The above photograph shows Igor Sikorsky's first American aircraft, the S-29-A, under construction between the farm buildings.
Roosevelt Field,
Hempstead, New York
S-29-A moved to an old, leaky hangar at Roosevelt Field, where regular demonstration and charter flights took place. Other aircraft designed and built at Roosevelt Field include the S-31, S-32, S-33, S-35 and S-37. The photograph above is of the S-37 aircraft outside of the hangar.
Company name changed to Sikorsky Manufacturing Corporation.
College Point, New York
Sikorsky Manufacturing Corp. moved to a rented factory location in the College Point neighborhood of Queens, New York. This new site on the Long Island Sound was ideal for developing and testing seaplanes, including the S-34, S-36 and S-38. This aerial photograph of the S-38 aircraft shows the College Point factory in the background.
Company name changed to Sikorsky Aviation Corporation
South Main Street,
Stratford, Connecticut
With the success of the S-38 aircraft, the company needed to expand to meet production demand. Igor Sikorsky moved the company to an ideal location for producing both land and seaplanes, on South Main Street in Stratford along the Housatonic River. Seaplanes developed at this Stratford location include the S-38 through the VS-44A. The S-46 (VS-300) and S-47 (VS-316A) helicopters were also designed and tested at this location.
Sikorsky Aviation Corporation becomes a subsidiary of United Aircraft and Transport Corporation after majority of stock is acquired
Company name changed to Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation merges with Chance Vought Aircraft and renamed as Vought-Sikorsky Corp.
South Main Street,
Stratford, Connecticut
The first flight of the world's first practical helicopter, the VS-300, occurred next to the Vought-Sikorsky South Main Street factory.
South Avenue,
Bridgeport, Connecticut
After Sikorsky was awarded a production contract for the R-4 (S-47) helicopter, the Vought-Sikorsky company was separated and the Sikorsky company was renamed Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. Sikorsky Aircraft moved to a new Bridgeport location on South Avenue while Vought Aircraft remained at the Stratford South Main Street location.
Although no longer the company headquarters, the Bridgeport location continues to operate and functions as a support facility.
Although no longer the company headquarters, the Bridgeport location continues to operate and functions as a support facility.
North Main Street,
Stratford, Connecticut
Sikorsky Aircraft moved its headquarters to an 800,000 square foot plant on North Main Street in Stratford, Connecticut. While Igor Sikorsky retired soon after the move, on May 25, 1957, he continued to commute daily to his office as a consultant on every Sikorsky helicopter program until his passing on October 26, 1972. Igor's office still exists and looks as it did on his final day of work.
In 1980, the North Main Street headquarters was expanded to 2.2 million square feet.
In 1980, the North Main Street headquarters was expanded to 2.2 million square feet.
The company's name is changed to Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin Company, after purchase by Lockheed Martin Corporation.