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Igor I. Sikorsky
(25 May 1889 - 26 Oct 1972)
Russian-American aircraft designer who is best known for his successful pioneering development of the helicopter.
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Science Quotes by Igor I. Sikorsky (10 quotes)
[About early aircraft:] We were ignorant, and we were ignorant of the fact that we were ignorant! This was ignorance squared, and it often led to disaster.
— Igor I. Sikorsky
In The Story of the Winged-S: The Autobiography of Igor I. Sikorsky (2011).
[In 1909,] Paris was the center of the aviation world. Aeronautics was neither an industry nor even a science; both were yet to come. It was an “art” and I might say a “passion”. Indeed, at that time it was a miracle. It meant the realization of legends and dreams that had existed for thousands of years and had been pronounced again and again as impossible by scientific authorities. Therefore, even the brief and unsteady flights of that period were deeply impressive. Many times I observed expressions of joy and tears in the eyes of witnesses who for the first time watched a flying machine carrying a man in the air.
— Igor I. Sikorsky
In address (16 Nov 1964) presented to the Wings Club, New York City, Recollections and Thoughts of a Pioneer (1964), 5.
Engineering is a living branch of human activity and its frontiers are by no means exhausted.
— Igor I. Sikorsky
From 'Igor Sikorsky the Aviation Pioneer Speaks', Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives, sikorskyarchives.com.
If a man is in need of rescue, an airplane can come in and throw flowers on him, and that’s just about all. But a direct lift aircraft could come in and save his life.
— Igor I. Sikorsky
From 'Igor Sikorsky the Aviation Pioneer Speaks', Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives, sikorskyarchives.com.
In those early days, the Chief Engineer was almost always the Chief Pilot as well. This had the automatic result of eliminating poor engineering very early in aviation.
— Igor I. Sikorsky
In The Story of the Winged-S: The Autobiography of Igor I. Sikorsky (2011).
Money lost—nothing lost, Health lost—little lost, Spirit lost—everything lost.
— Igor I. Sikorsky
In The Story of the Winged-S: The Autobiography of Igor I. Sikorsky (2011).
The helicopter approaches closer than any other [transport] to fulfillment of mankind’s ancient dream of the flying horse and the magic carpet.
— Igor I. Sikorsky
In The Story of the Winged-S: The Autobiography of Igor I. Sikorsky (2011).
The work of a pioneer in science of technique often consists of finding a correct solution, or creating a working mechanism, based on laws that are not yet discovered.
— Igor I. Sikorsky
In The Story of the Winged-S: The Autobiography of Igor I. Sikorsky (2011).
Truth in politics is optional — Truth in engineering is mandatory.
— Igor I. Sikorsky
From 'Igor Sikorsky the Aviation Pioneer Speaks', Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives, sikorskyarchives.com.
When I started my work in 1909 there was about one fatality for every 2000 miles of flight and probably a few crashes for every 100 miles. Much of the design and flight knowledge that is now taken for granted was then unknown and … had to be learned through failures and tragedies.
— Igor I. Sikorsky
In address (16 Nov 1964) presented to the Wings Club, New York City, published as Recollections and Thoughts of a Pioneer (1964), 6.
See also:
- 25 May - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Sikorsky's birth.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
