Skip to main content
First practical US helicopter, pioneering the single-main-rotor concept
Society
Main Category
Era
Date Created
Location Country
us
Coordinates
42.303452, -83.233091
Address1
Henry Ford Museum
Address2
20900 Oakwood Boulevard
City
Dearborn
State
Country
Zip

America's first practical helicopter, it pioneered the single main rotor concept that became the predominant helicopter configuration throughout the world. The principles that were developed and demonstrated by the VS-300 had direct application in the design of the early mass-production helicopter, marking the beginning of the world's rotorcraft industry.

The initial flight of the VS-300 was piloted by its designer, Igor I. Sikorsky (1889-1972), on September 14, 1939, in Stratford, Connecticut.

First practical US helicopter, pioneering the single-main-rotor concept
Image Credit
Courtesy ASME
Image Caption
Sikorsky VS-300 Helicopter

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support America's only magazine of the history of engineering and innovation, and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to Invention & Technology.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.