The helicopter is a relatively young technology that wasn’t widely used commercially until the 1950s. This means that we are now losing that first generation of trailblazers, the men and women who realized that Igor Sikorsky’s invention was more than a curiosity. These folks climbed into the cockpit, picked up the cyclic, and moved an infant industry forward.
HFI is committed to preserving the recollections of these men and women who designed, flew, fixed, and operated rotary-wing aircraft and shaped our industry. Their curiosity, ingenuity, and love of aviation can now be read by helicopter students, historians, aficionados, and anyone who needs a little inspiration now and then.
Many of the Trailblazers interview below were originally published in ROTOR® magazine. Click on the name to view the full interview.