Vought-Sikorsky VS-300

The Sikorsky VS -300, built by Igor I. Sikorski, was the first to be used for practical purposes helicopter in the United States.

The VS -300 ( Vought - Sikorsky 300) had a three-blade main rotor, which was powered by a 55 kW motor. The tail rotor was used to compensate for the torque generated by the main rotor, and was coupled via a deflection gear mechanically connected to the main rotor. The hull formed an undisguised steel lattice construction, only for the longer flight tests in the last model, this has been provided with an aerodynamically shaped sheet metal.

The first flight took place on 14 September 1939 but still with cable connection to the ground, the first free flight then took place on 13 May 1940. Only a year later, on May 6, 1941 Sikorsky set a new duration -flight record of one hour, 32 minutes and 26 seconds with the VS -300. In the following period until December 8, 1941, the helicopter has undergone many technical changes. The final version of the VS -300 flew a total of 102 hours, 35 minutes and 51 seconds to, today the Henry Ford in Dearborn (Michigan) was handed over to the Edison Institute.

The VS- 300 served as a model for the series- produced VS -316 (R -4). He also demonstrated the advantages of the tail rotor configuration, which is used to this day in the vast number of helicopters.