Fergie's Tech Blog

13 May 1913: Igor Sikorsky is First to Pilot a Four-Engine Aircraft

Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky (Russian: Игорь Иванович Сикорский, Ukrainian: Ігор Іванович Сікорський) (25 May 1889 – 26 October 1972) pioneer of aviation who designed the first four-engine airplane and the first successful helicopter of the most common configuration.

In 1912 Igor Sikorsky became Chief Engineer in the Russian Baltic Railroad Car Factory in Saint Petersburg. In 1914 he was awarded the Degree in Engineering "Honoris Causa" by St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute. His S-6-B airplane won a small order from the Russian Army. Other early work included the construction, as chief engineer, of the first four-engine aircraft, the Bolshoi Baltiski, which he called the Grand. He was also the test pilot for its first flight, on 13th May, 1913. Sikorsky's planes were used by Russia as bombers in World War I and he was decorated with the Cross of St. Vladimir.

posted by Fergie @ 5/12/2006 10:01:00 PM