Wonderful Flying Machines: A History of U.S. Coast Guard HelicoptersThe story of the helicopter and its creator, Igor Sikorsky, and chief promoter, a young Coast Guard lieutenant named Frank Erickson, closely parallels that of Wilbur and Orville Wright and their first flying machine. Like that famous brother team, these courageous visionaries risked their lives and careers on a dream. Dubbed "Igor's Nightmare" in the early days of its development, the helicopter brought derision and ridicule on its supporters. Few who saw the contraption, with it flailing rotors and staccato motion, could be convinced that it was the momentous achievement it would one day be considered. This book clearly demonstrates the problems encountered by the personalities involved and their strengths in developing the helicopter for Coast Guard use. It shows how Erickson and his friend and mentor, Coast Guard captain William Kossler, undaunted by their lack of support, fought with single-minded intensity to establish the helicopter as a vital rescue tool in the service. Kossler died while the project was still in its infancy. Erickson left the service in disgrace but lived to see his efforts succeed when the helicopter revolutionized search-and-rescue operations. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Air Forces air station aircraft airplanes Army Army Air arrived assigned aviators base basket became began boat British BuAer called Capt Captain carried chief Coast Guard Aviation Comdr commandant completed continued copter craft crash crew December deck demonstration designed directed dropped early engine equipment Erickson experience feet Field finally five flew flight floats flying four Graham Gregory ground headquarters heli helicopter helicopter's hoist hovering hundred Ibid immediately interviews January John June Kossler landing later letter lift Lowe MacDiarmid machine March miles military mission months moved Naval Navy Navy's needed noted Odom officer operations pilot plane qualified received recorded rescue returned rotor seaplane ship Sikorsky started survivors took U.S. Coast Guard United USCG USCGA waves winds wing wrote York
Bibliographic information
| Title | Wonderful Flying Machines: A History of U.S. Coast Guard Helicopters |
| Author | Barrett Thomas Beard |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Naval Institute Press, 1996 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | Aug 12, 2009 |
| ISBN | 155750086X, 9781557500861 |
| Length | 240 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / United States / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |