Front:
36USAirmail
RATFORD
JUN
23
1988
VS30
Igor Sikorsky
06491
CT
Back:
IGOR SIKORSKY
First Day of Issue: June 23, 1988
First Issue Location: Stratford, Connecticut
In the early 1900's, Igor Sikorsky applied his genius to the
problems of mechanical flight, with amazing results. In
1909, he produced a helicopter, but dissatisfied with his
progress, he turned instead to fixed-wing flight. In 1912,
Sikorsky received the financial backing he needed to
produce his dream, and the giant “Russian Knight" was
built. It was the first four-engine land plane, and Sikorsky
himself was the pilot. His second model of this design
flew 1600 miles between Petrograd and Kiev, and
Sikorsky had soon set records for Russia in flying distance,
weight-lifting, and altitude. Immigrating to the United
States, Sikorsky continued his aeronautics career, design-
ing Pan American Airways' famous S-42 flying boats,
building one of the first successful U.S. passenger planes,
and turning his attentions once again to helicopters.
Sikorsky's 1938 Vought-Sikorsky 300 single-seater heli-
copter brought this type of flight into the realm of practi-
cality. And, in 1945, his famed R-4 helicopter entered
large-scale production.
No. 88-35
©1988 The Maximum Card Collection
A Division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007
Original painting by Shannon Stirnweis
