In February 1972, a horrific fire engulfed the 26 story Pirani building in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The fire swept up from a lower floor and trapped people on the roof. Twenty helicopters took part in the rescue operation and 400 were rescued.

Mr. Jerome Lederer, Director of the Flight Safety Foundation, sent Mr. Sikorsky details of the fire and the lifesaving role helicopters played. Mr. Sikorsky’s response confirmed that his life-saving vision 64 years earlier had come to fruition.