Dates

Event

1939

Constructed as a VS-300.
Americas first practical helicopter

14 September 1939

First flight.
Tethered flight.

9 December 1939

Damaged.
While making a tethered flight a gust of wind tipped over the VS-300 grinding the rotors into the ground and causing major damage.

Remanufactured as a VS-300.
Completely redesigned and rebuilt, adding two additional horizontal tail rotors.

6 March 1940

First post-reassembly Flight.
First flight in new configuration.

13 May 1940

First flight out of the Sikorsky yard.

20 May 1940

First public demonstation.

23 January 1941

To Vought Sikorsky Aircraft, Stratford, CT with new c/r N28996 (VS-300A, 1).

15 April 1941

U.S.National Endurance Record Set (1 hour, 5 minutes, 14.5 seconds).

17 April 1941

Fitted with floats, made first helicopter water landings as first practical amphibious helicopter.

6 May 1941

Pilot Igor Sikorsky establishes International Helicopter Endurance Record of 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 26 seconds, beating record held by the Focke-Wulf FW 61.

From 11 June 1941 to October 1941

Converted to a VS-300A.
Major alterations completed. A single vertical tail with a horizontal rotor mounted on it for longitudinal (pitch) control replaced the 2 horizontal tail rotors on outriggers. Lateral control (roll) was controlled by cyclic pitch to the main rotor through a swashplate. Both the lifting tail rotor and the anti-torque tail rotor were a 46-inch two blade design. (Sikorsky Archives).

8 December 1941

First flight in VS-300A configuration.

7 October 1943

Last flight.
Total flight time: 102 hours, 34 minutes, and 51 seconds.

October 1943

To Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, Detroit, MI.
View the Location Dossier

28 July 1948

Civil registration, N28996, cancelled.

1985

Restored.
Shipped to Sikorsky for restoration and then returned to the Museum.

21 June 1991

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

17 July 1996

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.