Vought-Sikorsky VS-300: Historical Photos from the World's First Successful Helicopter

 

The Vought-Sikorsky VS-300, an American single-engine helicopter, was designed by Igor Sikorsky. Its original design had a single three-bladed rotor powered by a 75 horsepower (56 kW) engine.

On May 13, 1940, the VS-300 completed its first "free" flight.

Recognized as the inaugural American single main rotor helicopter, it rose to a height of 15–20 feet and moved 200 feet before hovering, inverting, and then landing safely.

The original design, along with its subsequent improvements, has greatly influenced the configuration of many features seen in modern helicopters today.

Igor Sikorsky's search for a practical helicopter began in 1938, when, as engineering manager of the Vought-Sikorsky division of United Aircraft Corporation, he was able to convince United Aircraft directors that his years of experience in rotary-wing flight problems Study and research will lead to a breakthrough.

His first experimental machine, the VS-300, was tested by Sikorsky on 14 September 1939, tethered to cables.

In developing the concept of rotary-wing flight, Sikorsky was the first to introduce a single engine to power both the main and tail rotor systems.

The cyclic control was found to be difficult to get right, and Sikorsky locked the cyclic and added two small vertical-axis lifting rotors on either side behind the tailboom.

By simultaneously varying the pitch of these rotors, forward and reverse control was provided. Roll control was provided by differential pitching of the blades.

In this configuration, it was found that the VS-300 could not fly forward easily and Sikorsky joked about turning the pilot's seat around.

Sikorsky fitted utility floats (also called pontoons) to the VS-300 and performed landing and takeoff on water on 17 April 1941, making it the first practical amphibious helicopter.

On 6 May 1941, the VS-300 broke the world endurance record of the Focke-Wulf Fw 61 by staying aloft for 1 hour 32 minutes and 26.1 seconds. A two-seat version was delivered to the US Army in May 1942.

The final version of the VS-300 was powered by a 150 hp Franklin engine. The VS-300 was one of the first helicopters capable of carrying cargo.

The VS-300 was modified over a two-year period in 1941, including the removal of the two vertical tail rotors, when a new cyclic control system significantly improved its flight behaviour.

In 1943, the VS-300 was retired to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Except for a trip to the Sikorsky Aircraft Plant for restoration in 1985, it has been on display there ever since.

The success of the VS-300 and the lessons learned from its development laid the groundwork for further advances in helicopter technology.

Sikorsky's continued work and experimentation eventually led to the creation of more sophisticated and capable helicopters that shaped the modern rotorcraft industry.