Sergei Sikorsky, son of Igor Sikorsky, whose pioneering work led to the development of the helicopter, has died at the age of 100. Sikorsky was born into the aviation industry while his father was developing the Pan Am Clipper flying boats in the 1920s and grew up during the early days of testing of the VS-300, the first viable helicopter, by his dad and the Sikorsky engineers. He joined United Technologies in 1951 and retired as the VP of Special Products in 1992.
He continued as a consultant until he was in his 80s and took part in the development of the S-97 Raider, a hybrid design with a pusher prop that allows speeds double that of conventional designs. He received numerous awards during his storied life. Lockheed Martin now owns the company and issued this statement:
“Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), is saddened to learn of the passing of Sergei I. Sikorsky on Sept. 18 at the age of 100. Our deepest condolences go to his wife, Elena.
A proud military veteran, Sergei served our country during World War II, in the United States Coast Guard, assigned to the Helicopter Development Unit.
“The entire team – past and present – at Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin mourn the passing of a remarkable man, a link to the golden age of aviation who meant so much to the success of our business,” said Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager. “Sergei will be greatly missed.”
This video tribute commemorates the amazing life and times of Sergei I. Sikorsky, a remarkable man who meant so much to aviation history, the Sikorsky business, its employees and the greater Stratford, Connecticut, community. The remarkable impact of the Sikorsky family spans generations, touching every current and former employee, engineer and technician, the places we live and work and the countless lives saved by the helicopter.
During his distinguished 41-year career with Sikorsky, Sergei played a significant role in the company’s growth into one of the world’s leading helicopter manufacturers and the expansion of rotary aircraft around the world.
The son of aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky, the company’s founder and inventor of the first practical helicopter, Sergei began his career with the company in 1951 in international marketing and sales.
He returned to the United States in 1976 at the dawn of the Black Hawk era to become division vice president in Stratford, overseeing the company’s co-production programs. Sergei would later take on marketing and special project roles until retiring in 1992. Even in retirement, Sergei remained active with the company, serving as a goodwill ambassador at major trade shows and other events where he would sign autographs, speak about his family’s legacy and highlight an immeasurable passion for the helicopter and its promise to save lives around the world.
The aircraft hangar at Sikorsky’s Stratford facility was dedicated as the Sergei I. Sikorsky Flight Center in 2019. Sergei called it his life’s “single greatest honor.”
For more information about the Sikorsky legacy, visit the Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives: https://sikorskyarchives.com/“
As one who has been fascinated by helicopters all my life (okay, all but five years of it) starting with the Saturday morning TV show “Whirlybirds”, I mourn Sergei’s passing. As I did his father’s, while I was at university studying their fiendish aerodynamics. But something told me that I should never try to make a job out of something that I passionately loved; it will eventually suck the joy out of it. So instead I made a career in computer operating systems until I could afford to build my own chopper. I used to sling code in the guts of mainframe OSes, but now I’m just a baffled Windoze user.
But I still love that feeling of lifting into a low hover, and just floating.
Thank you Sergei, and especially your father, for all you have done for the world, and my personal happiness.
Whirlybirds! How could I have forgotten that show? Thanks.