SIKORSKY VS-300

El VS-300 fue el primer helicóptero en volar con rotor principal y rotor de cola. El primer vuelo fue el 14 de septiembre de 1939. El testeo continuo hasta mayo de 1940. El 6 de mayo de 1941 Sikorsky batio el récord de permanencia en vuelo (1 hora, 32 minutos y 26 segundos). Durante su carrera el VS-300 voló 102 horas, 35 minutos y 51 segundos. El sucesor del VS-300 fue el VS-316 (R-4), el primer helicóptero en ser fabricado en forma serial. Esto marcó el comienzo de la industria sobre los helicópteros.

Igor I. Sikorsky's VS-300 was America's first practical helicopter and the first successful helicopter in the world to perfect the now familiar single main rotor and tail rotor design. The VS-300 was first flown (tethered) on September 14, 1939 and the first untethered flight was on May 13, 1940. Testing continued and on May 6, 1941 Sikorsky piloted the VS-300 to a new world helicopter endurance record of 1 hour, 32 minutes and 26 seconds. The VS-300 underwent several major configuration changes until December 8, 1941 when it was flown in its final configuration; a single main lifting rotor with full cyclic-pitch for both roll and pitch control and a single tail rotor for both directional control and anti-torque. On October 7, 1943 the VS-300 was presented to Henry Ford and his Edison Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. During her career the VS-300 had logged 102 hours, 35 minutes and 51 seconds. The development of the VS-300 established the concepts and principles that were utilized in the design of the VS-316 (R-4), the world's first production helicopter. Thus began the world's helicopter industry.

Source Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives

Characteristics Características	Information Información	Characteristics Características	Information Información
First Flight Primer Vuelo	1939	Engine Motor	1
Seating Capacity Plazas	1	Power Potencia
Empty Weight Peso Vacío	Lbs	Hover Ceiling O.G.E. Estacionario O.G.E	Fts
Maximum Weight Peso Máximo	Lbs	Hover Ceiling I.G.E. Estacionario I.G.E	Fts
Vel. Cruise Vel. crucero	Kts	Service Ceiling Techo de Servicio	Fts
V.N.E. V.N.E	Kts	Maximum Range (Std) Alcance (Std)	NM